No abstract

Background: People socialize and receive education and training for the first time outside the home at school, where their teachers act as role models. Teachers play a crucial role in instilling sun-protection habits in children. Avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., staying in the shade, wearing sun-protective clothing, wearing sunglasses, wearing hats, using sunscreen products, and using an umbrella are some of the sun-protection methods described in the literature. This study sought to assess teachers’ skin cancer knowledge and attitudes (SC). Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted between 21 September 2020, and 21 October 2020, 647 teachers from 30 schools in Kahramanmaras were included with their consent. The number of teachers employed at Kahramanmaras was 1863. Accordingly, the sample was found to be 641 with a 5% margin of error and a 99% confidence interval. Schools were selected by a simple random method. Teachers’ knowledge and behaviors were assessed using a 25-point questionnaire designed by the literature data to gauge the level of SC knowledge. Results: Of the 647 teachers included in this study, 230 (35.5%) were male, and 417 (64.5%) were female. The mean age of the participants was 38.44 ± 8.79 (min = 22, max = 65) years. The knowledge level of the teachers about SC was 13.54 ± 4.48 (min = 0, max = 23). The internet (75.9%) was the most preferred source of information. SC knowledge level was significantly higher in those with SC in their families and birthmarks on their bodies. (p < 0.001, p = 0.042, respectively). The rate of precaution taken to protect from the sun was higher in those with higher knowledge (p = 0.032). Women, primary school teachers, those with skin type 1, those with multiple nevi, and those with a high level of SC knowledge used statistically significantly more sunscreen (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.037, p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions: It was found that the knowledge level of teachers about skin cancer and sun-protective behaviors was moderate. Correct behaviors increased as knowledge about SC grew. Information and recommendations made on the Internet should be made by experts. Additionally, health policymakers should implement projects aimed at improving teachers’ knowledge and behaviors and, through them, teaching students about SC; as such projects would significantly contribute to both public health and health economics.

No abstract

Aim: Our study aims to adapt the "Contraceptive Knowledge Assessment-CKA" questionnaire which is a comprehensive foreign scale to Turkish due to the lack of a scale that is adequately developed in our country regarding contraceptive methods and then to conduct the validity and reliability study of the questionnaire by applying it. Methods: Our study was conducted with individuals who voluntarily participated in the questionnaire and were over 18 years old between April and July 2020. Our study was a methodological one and was designed as a validity and reliability study. Our study included factor analyses for validity analysis, Cronbach alpha, item-total correlation, test-retest correlation analysis for reliability analysis. In our study, statistical significance was considered as p < 0.05 and SPSS statistical package program was employed for calculations. Results: In our study, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin's value was 0.86, and Bartlett's result was p < 0.05. Cronbach alpha was found as 0.86. The correlation analysis of test-retest points was 0.975 (97.5%) with a p-value 0.000, there was a significant difference. Conclusions: It was concluded that our study has high reliability and high validity as a result of the questionnaires and analyses performed in this study on the Turkish adaptation of the "CKA" scale developed by Haynes et al.

Introduction: It has been reported that the use of oral isotretinoin may have positive and negative effects on the course of COVID-19 and the risk of transmission. Objectives: The purpose of our study is to evaluate how our patients that took oral isotretinoin during the pandemic were affected by COVID-19. Methods: The clinical processes of moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris patients between March 2020 and February 2021 were evaluated. Results: Of 102 moderate-to-severe acne patients, 67 were using oral isotretinoin and 35 were using a topical treatment. Of 27 patients who tested positive for COVID-19, 16 (59.3%) were using oral isotretinoin and 11(40.7%) were using topical treatment, there was no statistical difference in the rates of COVID-19 positivity between the two groups (P = 0.412). The rates of positive tests for COVID-19 were similar between contacted patients of two groups (P = 0.391). Loss of smell/taste was lower in patients using oral isotretinoin compared to patients receiving topical treatment (46.7% and 72.7%, respectively.). Headache symptoms were less common in patients using oral isotretinoin (P = 0.047). Conclusions: The use of oral isotretinoin did not cause an increase or decrease in the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The patients using oral isotretinoin had a lower incidence of taste/smell loss and headache.

No abstract

Background: Tobacco can make thoracic diseases more complicated by affecting their respiratory functions. Smoking causes many diseases that require surgical treatment and affects surgical results. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between tobacco use and post-operative complications in thoracic surgery patients and contribute to public health.Methods: In this study, 754 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Patient characteristics and tobacco use habits of the patients were determined. Postoperative complications, admission to the intensive therapy unit, intubation, death, and length of stay in hospital were defined as surgical outcomes. These results were compared and analyzed with tobacco use.Results: The patients consisted of 536 (71.1%) men and 218 (28.9%) women. Tobacco use was more common in men (X2=223.216, p<0.001) and younger ages (X2=45.342, p<0.001). Complications occurred in 96 patients, 76 (79.2%) of whom used tobacco. Tobacco use (p<0.001, OR=3.547), ASA score (p=0.029, OR=2.004), major surgeries (p<0.001, OR=4.458), and minimally invasive surgeries (p=0.027, OR=2.323) are associated with complications. Length of hospital stay is related to the amount of tobacco (p<0.001, OR=3.706), size of surgery (p<0.001, OR=14.797), over 65 years (p<0.001, OR=2.635), and infectious diseases (p=0.039, OR=1.939).Conclusions: Tobacco use is related to poor outcomes in thoracic surgery patients, and it is a severe health problem, especially at young ages. Tobacco control programs should be supported to prevent the effects of tobacco use on thoracic diseases and postoperative complications.

No abstract