Healthy lifestyle behavior of employees in small and medium-sized enterprises in Aydin, Turkey

Objective: To determine healthy lifestyle behavior and affecting risk factors in workers at small and medium-sized enterprises from four different sectors in Aydin, Turkey

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at four different small and medium-sized enterprises in Aydin, Turkey and 264 employees participated in the study. A questionnaire was used for data collection. It consisted of questions about socio-demographic features [age, gender, marital status, education, perceived income, occupation and having children], health status, and medical history, medication use, having occupational accidents and occupational health and safety. Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale, which was developed by Walker et al. in 1996, was used to evaluate healthy lifestyle behaviors of the workers

Results: The mean score for Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale was 135.46+/-22.49. Gender, marital status, perceived income, sector of workplace, title, presence of a chronic disease, finding oneself healthy in the previous year and having an occupational accident in the previous year did not significantly affect any subscales of Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale. The workers aged over 50 years had significantly higher scores for health responsibility than those aged 20-29 years [p<0.05]. The workers living in a village got significantly higher scores for Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale and its subscales health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition and spiritual development than those living in a city [p<0.05]

Conclusion: Although workers have good spiritual development, they may not adopt physical activity as a healthy lifestyle and that workers benefiting from occupational health and safety services can display healthy lifestyle behavior

Epidemiological and diagnostic features of blastocystis infection in symptomatic patients in Izmir province, Turkey

The aims of this study were to identify Blastocystis subtypes [STs] in a cohort of Turkish patients with various gastrointestinal symptoms using a novel Real Time PCR method developed recently for Blastocystis detection and assess the relationship between Blastocystis STs and patient symptoms. Totally, 617 stool samples of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were examined with microscopy and inoculated in Jones medium. Blastocystispositive samples were further assessed to identify coinfections with other possible pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. Diagnostic efficacies of microscopy, culture and Real-Time PCR were compared. PCR products were sequenced to identify the subtypes of Blastocystis isolates. Totally 94 [15.24%] samples were positive for Blastocystis after all methods. Among these, 83 of 94 [88.3%] samples were identified with all methods, while 11 were positive only with Real Time PCR. Diarrhea and abdominal pain were the leading symptoms in the patients. The only pathogenic agent identified in 76 of 94 [80.9%] patients was Blastocystis. Subtype 3 was the leading Blastocystis subtype [44.6%], while subtypes 6 and 7 were firstly isolated from symptomatic patients in our region. Comparison of three diagnostic methods indicated Real Time PCR as the most sensitive and specific method. Blastocystis was the only pathogenic agent among symptomatic patients, with subtype 3 being predominant. Patients with subtypes 6 and 7 need further assessments concerning the zoonotic potential of Blastocystis

Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus in the prevaccine era: a population-based study in Izmir, Turkey

To determine the population-based seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus [VZV] and related risk factors in Izmir. A population-based household survey was conducted. A representative sample of the population older than 15 years of age was selected using multistage random sampling. A total of 2136 healthy persons participated in this cross-sectional study. The participants completed a questionnaire designed to collect data related to socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors. Blood samples were collected, and VZV-specific IgG was measured using an ELISA. In total, 94.3% of individuals were seropositive for VZV. The difference between VZV seroprevalence in urban and rural populations was significant [OR: 2.6 [95% CI, 1.7-3.8]]. No statistically significant differences in seropositivity were observed with respect to other sociodemographic characteristics. A large proportion of the participants were found to be immune to VZV

Comparing dental and pharmacy students' perceptions on public health and preventive health care course

A Public health course has an important role in the undergraduate education of pharmacy and dentistry in terms of emphasizing preventive care. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the views of pharmacy and dentistry students on a public health course and preventive health care. 173 students enrolled at Ege University, Faculties of Pharmacy and Dentistry completed a SWOT [Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats] analysis and replied to 18 Likert type question to determine their perceptions on a public health course and preventive health care. The comments of the students were reviewed and categorized into key themes. SWOT analysis and the results of quantitative Likert type questions supported each other. According to the quantitative results, there was no significant difference between the scores of students from both schools in terms of their statements about the public health course and preventive care. Both groups of students mentioned the contribution of the public health course to their professions in the future. They also appreciated the importance of preventive care in the health services