In addition to the currently recommended strategy of controlling the dog population and of vaccinating domesticated animals, adults and children should be educated about bite prevention to reduce the number of animal bites.
The Association of Job Strain withCoronary Heart Disease and Metabolic Syndrome in Municipal Workers in Turkey: Yucel DEMIRAL, et al. Department of Public Health, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Turkey-To explore the association of job strain with CHD and metabolic syndrome in municipal workers. A cross-sectional study was completed of 450 male workers. Coronary heart disease was defined as: physician diagnosed ischemic heart disease; and/or, ischemic findings in the ECG. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criterion set by the National Cholesterol Education Panel. The demand-control model was used to assess job strain. Self administered questionnaires were completed after a face to face interview. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association of job strain with CHD and metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and CHD were 17.8% and 8.0% respectively. Both CHD and metabolic syndrome were found to be significantly higher in higher income groups. Job demand and job control were not found to be associated with either CHD or metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was significantly more prevalent among the high job strain workers, but the significance was lost when controlled for age. The findings suggest that there is no significant association between job strain and metabolic syndrome and CHD in this sample of Turkish workers. Job strain may possibly be perceived differently in different cultures and occupations. Future studies may benefit from using a combination of different stress models and more diverse study populations. (J Occup Health 2006; 48: 332-338)
The project is unique for being the first community-based cohort on CVD risk factors in a Turkish setting. This project will have a valuable contribution on not only determining CVD risks, but also incorporating interventions for prevention.
BackgroundThe aim of this study is to define the research capacity and training needs for professionals working on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the public health arena in Turkey.MethodsThis study was part of a comparative cross-national research capacity-building project taking place across Turkey and the Mediterranean Middle East (RESCAP-Med, funded by the EU). Identification of research capacity and training needs took place in three stages. The first stage involved mapping health institutions engaged in NCD research, based on a comprehensive literature review. The second stage entailed in-depth interviews with key informants (KIs) with an overview of research capacity in public health and the training needs of their staff. The third stage required interviewing junior researchers, identified by KIs in stage two, to evaluate their perceptions of their own training needs. The approach we have taken was based upon a method devised by Hennessy&Hicks. In total, 55 junior researchers identified by 10 KIs were invited to participate, of whom 46 researchers agreed to take part (84%). The specific disciplines in public health identified in advance by RESCAP-MED for training were: advanced epidemiology, health economics, environmental health, medical sociology-anthropology, and health policy.ResultsThe initial literature review showed considerable research on NCDs, but concentrated in a few areas of NCD research. The main problems listed by KIs were inadequate opportunities for specialization due to heavy teaching workloads, the lack of incentives to pursue research, a lack of financial resources even when interest existed, and insufficient institutional mechanisms for dialogue between policy makers and researchers over national research priorities. Among junior researchers, there was widespread competence in basic epidemiological skills, but an awareness of gaps in knowledge of more advanced epidemiological skills, and the opportunities to acquire these skills were lacking. Self-assessed competencies in each of the four other disciplines considered revealed greater training needs, especially regarding familiarity with the qualitative research skills for medical anthropology/sociology.ConclusionsIn Turkey there are considerable strengths to build upon. But a combination of institutional disincentives for research, and the lack of opportunities for the rising generation of researchers to acquire advanced training skills.
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