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BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers belong to an occupational group that is at high risk during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The increased workload of healthcare workers and the accompanying psychosocial stress caused by the pandemic can affect musculoskeletal system disorders, physical activity status, sleep quality, and fatigue in this group. OBJECTIVE: To investigate musculoskeletal system disorders, physical activity level, sleep quality, and fatigue in healthcare workers healthcare workers with and without a COVID-19. METHODS: A total of 200 healthcare professionals aged 18-65 years with and without a history of COVID-19 were in the study. Data were collected between January and March 2021. A “Preliminary Evaluation Form”, “Extended version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal System Questionnaire (NMQ-E)”, “the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF)” and “the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used for data collection”. RESULTS: It was determined that musculoskeletal system disorders did not differ significantly between healthcare workers with and without a COVID-19 history (p > 0.05). It was found that the number of people with problems in the low-back region was higher in those with a COVID-19 history (p = 0.002). In the sleep duration component, the scores of those who did not have a COVID-19 history were found to be significantly higher than those who did (p = 0.10). In other comparisons, it was determined that there was no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the number of people with problems in the low-back region was higher in those with a COVID-19 history. Those without a COVID-19 history had higher scores in sleep duration parameter.

Introduction. The study purpose was to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation therapy (EST) and to examine whether the patients' awareness of and satisfaction with EST changed with gender, education level, information on treatment, and number of sessions. Methods. The Electrotherapy Questionnaire, prepared by the researchers, consisting of 20 closed-ended questions, was applied to the participants. A total of 531 volunteers who had completed the physiotherapy program and received EST treatment were included in the study. Pearson's correlations were used to assess the associations between satisfaction and awareness and gender, education level, number of treatment sessions, and information on treatment. Results. The mean age of the patients was 45.4 ± 5.1 years. overall, 57% of the participants stated that they did not know the purpose of EST; 77% were satisfied with EST; 47.5% maintained that the transmission gel used during EST applications had a healing effect. A significant positive correlation was found only between increasing physiotherapists' explanations and patients' satisfaction (r = 0.166, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Patients' expectation bound with the treatment and their desire to be informed were found to be high. The proportion of those who benefited from EST turned out high. it was shown that patients' awareness of EST and their perceived wellness were improved by informing the patients about the purpose of the treatment.

Background: The purpose of this research was to determine the university students’ characteristics regarding smartphone usage and physical activity and to investigate the relationship between smart phone addiction and the physical activity levels. Methods: A total of 288 (female=159 and male=129) students were involved in this observational study. Smartphone usage characteristics of the participants were recorded. The short form of the Smartphone Addiction Scale was used to assess their smartphone addiction, and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess their physical activity levels. Results: It was found that 37.7% of the females and 27.9% of the males were at risk of smartphone addiction. There was no difference between the males and females in terms of smartphone addiction (p>0.05). There was no difference in the physical activity levels of the participants regardless of smartphone addiction (p>0.05). A weak negative correlation was found between smartphone addiction and moderate physical activity score (r=-0.126, p=0.047). Conclusion: According to this study, the university students showed inadequate levels of physical activity and were at risk of smartphone addiction. Considering the negative correlation between smartphone addiction and moderate physical activity, access to physical activity facilities in universities should be facilitated, and awareness on this issue should be increased.