This study aims to determine the effect of death anxiety on the life satisfaction of individuals living in 11 provinces declared as earthquake zones in Turkey.

This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 435 participants in earthquake zones in Turkey. Data were collected online through Google Forms using a sociodemographic form, the Revised Death Anxiety Scale (RDAS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

In this study, it was determined that 48.5% of the participants exhibited moderate levels of death anxiety. The participants’ average score on the RDAS was 53.97 (SD = 16.21), and their mean score on the SWLS was 12.30 (SD = 4.33).

This study showed that death anxiety adversely affects life satisfaction. Higher death anxiety among participants was associated with lower satisfaction with life. Consequently, health care professionals should offer increased psychological and communication support to individuals who have experienced significant disasters like earthquakes.

Ménière’s disease is an inner-ear disorder caused by endolymphatic hydrops, characterised by recurrent episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, and tinnitus. Ménière’s disease can be classified as ‘probable’ and ‘definite’ according to the criteria determined by the Bárány Society.

This analytical cross-sectional retrospective study included 28 Ménière’s disease patients (15 with definite Ménière’s disease and 13 with probable Ménière’s disease). Vestibular function was assessed using ocular-vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, cervical-vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and caloric test.

The results of these tests were evaluated separately for probable Ménière’s disease and definite Ménière’s disease groups and comparisons were made. Significant differences in vestibular evoked myogenic potential asymmetry rates were observed between the probable Ménière’s disease and definite Ménière’s disease groups, with the definite Ménière’s disease group exhibiting a higher rate of abnormal responses.

This suggests that vestibular evoked myogenic potentials testing may be a valuable tool in distinguishing between these two subtypes of Ménière’s disease. Further research is necessary to validate these findings and explore their implications for clinical practice.

To evaluate the outcomes of patients with single ventricle physiology supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to first-stage palliation.

This was a retrospective registry-based study. Data from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry were used to identify single ventricle physiology patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation prior to palliation from 2016 to 2021. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses for associations with mortality were conducted.

Primary outcome was death before hospital discharge. Patient characteristics including demographics and associated complications were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Sixty-five patients met inclusion criteria. Survival to discharge was 42%. Twenty-four (37%) patients died while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. There was no significant difference in demographics between survivors and non-survivors. Non-survivors had a significantly longer median duration on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation compared to survivors, 99-hrs [IQR (Interquartile Range), 160, 300] vs. 59-hrs [43, 124] (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration (adjusted-OR [Odds Ratio] 1.01, 95% CI [Confidence Interval] 0.98, 0.99; p = 0.03) and requiring renal replacement therapy (42% vs. 19%; p = 0.04) were associated with mortality prior to discharge.

Clinicians managing decompensated patients with single ventricle physiology may consider extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to palliation. Survival to discharge was 42%. Evidence of renal injury and longer extracorporeal membrane oxygenation durations were associated with mortality. These data may be used to guide providers and to counsel families. However, more data are needed to refine indications and assess associations related to outcomes and decision-making.

Sleep problems are common in palliative care patients. In addition, psychological problems can affect sleep quality. The aim of this study was to investigate sleep quality, anxiety, and depression in palliative care patients.

The study was conducted between May 1, 2023 and October 31, 2023 in Turkey. The patient information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression test.

A total of 59.3% of patients were male, 76.7% were married, 89.3% had poor sleep quality, 61.3% had anxiety, and 86.7% were at risk of depression. A positive moderate correlation was found between HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and HADS total with subjective sleep quality. A positive moderate correlation was found between HADS-anxiety, HADS depression, and HADS total with the PSQI total. Sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction showed a weak positive correlation with HADS-depression and HADS total. In the regression analysis, anxiety proved to be a statistically significant predictor of sleep quality, while depression was not a significant predictor. These variables were found to explain 22% of the total variance in sleep quality.

The patients’ sleep quality was poor. Anxiety and the risk of depression were high. A positive moderate correlation was found between the total score of sleep quality and anxiety and depression. Anxiety was found to be a statistically significant predictor of sleep quality.

Ebstein’s anomaly represents 40% of congenital tricuspid valve abnormalities. Studies about paediatric Ebstein’s anomaly patients are limited.

To evaluate clinical characteristics, treatment (medical/arrhythmia ablation/surgical) results, and outcome of Ebstein’s anomaly patients, and to determine factors affecting arrhythmia presence and mortality.

Clinical data, echocardiography, treatment results, and outcomes of patients followed in our centre between 2000 and 2017 were retrospectively evaluated.

A total of 79 patients (61 children, median diagnosis age: 1.5 years [1 day–24 years]) were included. Eight patients (10.1%) were deceased during the study period. Common associated anomalies were atrial septal defect/patent foramen ovale (56.9%), mitral regurgitation (25.3%), pulmonary stenosis/atresia (17.7%), and ventricular septal defect (16.5%). Genetic diseases/congenital anomalies were present in 5/3.8%. Tricuspid regurgitation was present in 75.9%, and severe in 50%. Arrhythmias were detected in 30.4%, and accessory pathway-mediated re-entrant tachycardia was the most common (67%). Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was present in 12.7%. Twenty-one ablation procedures (radiofrequency ablation [85.7%]/cryoablation [14.3%]) were performed in 16 patients (median age: 13.3 years [4.9–17]). Acute success/recurrence rates: 87.5/25%. Surgery was performed in 31.6% (median age: 6.5 years [4 days–29 years]), 7.6% were operated during the first month, and 12.6% during the first year. Second surgery was required in 28%. Perioperative mortality rate was 12%, and median mortality age was 25 days (1 day–17 years). Median follow-up period was 5.3 years (1 day–32 years). Older diagnosis age (p = 0.005) and mild-moderate mitral regurgitation (p = 0.036) were associated with arrhythmias. Younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.012), younger age at first surgery (p = 0.004), surgery before age three years (p = 0.037), and presence of pulmonary atresia (p = 0.000014) were associated with mortality. Gender, diagnosis age, congenital anomalies/genetic disorders, tricuspid regurgitation, arrhythmias, and surgery history did not have an independent effect on survival.

In children and young adults presenting with Ebstein’s anomaly, younger age at presentation and at surgery, surgery before age three years, pulmonary atresia were associated with death. Ablation procedures can be successfully performed but recurrence rate is still high.

To investigate the co-existence of single and multiple anthropometric failures among children using an extended composite index of anthropometric failure (ECIAF). This study aims to elucidate the complex interplay between child-specific and maternal factors, highlighting the multifaceted nature of childhood malnutrition.

A multicentre cross-sectional study as part of the BESLEN project

Mother-Child Education Centre in the Pendik district of Istanbul, Türkiye

1283 children (preschool children, n 822, school-aged children, n 462) and 1044 mothers

Almost 1/3 of the children included in the study had an anthropometric failure as determined by ECIAF. Weight excess was the leading cause of the total anthropometric failures, most of which were observed to be slightly higher in boys, except for stunting only and co-occurrence of stunting and underweight. Among the mother-related factors, including higher BMI and waist circumference, low maternal age at delivery, low number of children in the household and being a single parent may be considered predisposing factors to any phenomenon of childhood malnutrition. Among child-related factors, birth weight being ≥ 3500 g had a higher risk for ECIAF failure, and children aged ≥ 60 months were more likely to experience stunting and underweight, while those < 60 months had a higher prevalence of weight excess.

The co-existence of stunting and overweight, the occurrence of weight excess in one in three stunted children and the high risk of central obesity are public health concerns. Also, ECIAF can better assess all aspects of childhood malnutrition than conventional measures.

This study was conducted to determine the relationships between nurses’ competency, motivation, and stress levels in disaster management, as well as to shed light on the establishment of effective disaster management programs.

In our research we used a correlational, descriptive, cross-sectional design. The sample of the study was composed of 498 nurses working in Turkey. The “Descriptive and Professional Characteristics and Disaster Experiences of Nurses” form, the “Competencies for Disaster Nursing Management Questionnaire,” the “Perceived Stress Scale,” and the “Nurses Job Motivation Scale” were used in data collection.

Nurses’ disaster management competency and motivation levels were found to be adequate, and their stress levels were found to be moderate. A weak positive correlation was found between disaster management competency and motivation, but a weak negative correlation was found between stress levels. Age, education level, experience level, training in disaster nursing, and knowledge of duties and responsibilities in disasters were associated with significant differences in terms of disaster competency and its dimensions, motivation, and stress levels.

The study found that nurses’ disaster experiences impacted their competency, feeling of preparedness, and stress and motivation levels, and motivation was found to be a predictor of increasing competency.

The prevalence of depression is gradually increasing worldwide with an increasing utilization of antidepressants. Nevertheless, despite their lower costs, generic-brand antidepressants were reported to be less prescribed. We aimed to examine the costs of reference- versus generic-brand antidepressant prescriptions in primary care practice.

This cross-sectional study included electronic prescriptions for adult patients that contained antidepressants (World Health Organization’s Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code: N06A), which were generated by a systematically selected sample of primary care doctors (n = 1431) in Istanbul in 2016. We examined the drug groups preferred, the reference- versus generic-brand status, and pharmacotherapy costs.

The majority of the prescriptions were prescribed for women (71.8%), and the average age of the patients was 53.6 ± 16.2 years. In prescriptions with a depression-related indication (n = 40 497), the mean number and cost of drugs were 1.5 ± 1.0 and 22.7 ± 26.4 United States Dollar ($) per prescription, respectively. In these prescriptions, the mean number and cost of antidepressants per encounter were 1.1 ± 0.2 and $17.0 ± 13.2, respectively. Reference-brand antidepressants were preferred in 58.2% of depression-related prescriptions, where the mean cost per prescription was $18.3 ± 12.4. The mean cost per prescription of the generics, which constituted 41.8% of the antidepressants in prescriptions, was $15.1 ± 11.4. We found that if the generic version with the lowest cost was prescribed instead of the reference-brand, the mean cost per prescription would be $12.9 ± 11.2.

Our study highlighted the substantial pharmacoeconomic impact of generic-brand antidepressant prescribing, whose preference over reference-brands could reduce the cost of antidepressant medication treatment by 17.5% in primary care, which could be approximately doubled if the cheapest generic antidepressant had been prescribed.

This study was conducted to investigate individuals’ perceptions of media messages about the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of these messages on their fear and uncertainty.

Data for this descriptive correlational study were collected between October and November 2020. A total of 653 individuals living in Turkey provided online survey data by completing a Personal Information Form, the Pandemic Uncertainty Scale, and the COVID-19 Pandemic Fear Scale.

The mean age of the participants was 52.1 ± 12.6, and 79.9% were female. It was found that 27.9% of participants “always” followed COVID-19 news in the media, and 41.3% “often” followed COVID-19-related news. Participants’ COVID-19 fear (24.46 ± 8.07) and uncertainty (55.35 ± 8.63) scores were moderate and correlated.

Level of trust in mass media was found to affect uncertainty about the pandemic. As level of trust in mass media increased, uncertainty about the pandemic decreased. Appropriate measures must be identified and adopted for effective and safe media use in situations posing massive and significant health threats such as COVID-19.

Cognitive test anxiety and dysfunctional metacognitions can significantly impact an individual’s performance and overall mental health. However, the effectiveness of various treatment strategies, including Virtual Reality (VR) therapy, is yet to be fully explored.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of VR therapy in reducing cognitive test anxiety and dysfunctional metacognitions in adults.

A total of 64 participants were enrolled in the study, with 40 in the treatment group and 24 in the control group. Data were collected using the Metacognition Questionnaire-30, Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Paired samples t-tests were used to compare pretest and posttest scores, while independent samples t-tests were used to compare the means between the groups.

The findings suggest that the treatment group experienced a significant reduction in cognitive test anxiety and negative metacognition scores following VR therapy. No significant changes were observed in the control group, and there were no significant differences in pretest scores between the treatment and control groups.

The study indicates that VR therapy may be an effective treatment strategy for reducing cognitive test anxiety and dysfunctional metacognitions. Further research is recommended to validate these findings and explore the potential of VR therapy in treating other psychological disorders.

None Declared