ABSTRACT
Purpose: COVID-19 is an important public health problem impacting the whole world. This study aimed to evaluate health technician students' knowledge and behaviors regarding COVID-19 and protective measures. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed with Dokuz Eylul University Vocational School of Health Services students (n=648). Data were collected online using a descriptive data registration form that consisted of 65 questions via Google Forms. Results While the students' mean knowledge score on COVID-19 and protective measures was 15.31 +/- 3.22, the mean behavior score was 10.53 +/- 3.34. A significant difference was detected between the students' education program, gender, father's educational status, smoking, and exercise habits and total behavior score averages related to COVID-19 and protective measures (p<0.05). Students who received training on the prevention of infectious diseases during their student years and who stated that they received any training on COVID-19 had higher mean knowledge and behavior scores regarding protective measures against COVID-19 (p<0.05). Students who were afraid of being infected with COVID-19, who had had COVID-19, and whose relatives died due to COVID-19 had higher mean behavior scores regarding protective measures against COVID-19 (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was revealed that the students participating in the study had moderate knowledge about COVID-19 and protective measures and exhibited positive behavior regarding protective measures. Since increasing the knowledge levels of future health technicians will also be reflected in their protective behaviors, which are important for their professional life, it is recommended that necessary arrangements be made in the education curriculum to improve their knowledge and behavior.
ABSTRACT
This meta-analysis study aimed to determine the sleep quality of medical staff during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A literature search without date limitation was conducted using databases of Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, Clinical Key, Scopus and Web of Science. ''Coronavirus'', ''Pittsburgh sleep quality'', ''medical staff' and ''COVID-19'' were used as keywords. Subsequently, four articles published from 1 January 2020 to 14 June 2020 and meeting the inclusion criteria, were included in this study. The random effects model was used for meta-analysis of continuous and binary variables. The AXIS assessment tool was used for evaluating the quality of publication bias. The total sample size of the four studies was 2.030. Among the participants, 77.9% were women and 22.1% were men. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index total score of the medical staff working during the OVID-19 pandemic was 7.55 [(95% confidence interval (CI) 6.024-9.073), z=9.76, p<0.001]. The sleep quality of the medical staff who were in contact with patients with COVID-19 was 2.57 (odds ratio 2.57, 95% CI 1.58-4.18, z=3.82, p<0.001) times worse than those of medical staff without patient contact. This study found that the medical staff working during the COVID-19 pandemic had poor sleep quality. Specifically, medical staff giving treatment and taking care of patients with COVID-19 had lower sleep quality. We suggest providing psychological support to medical staff in charge of the treatment and care of patients with COVID-19. Copyright © Telif Hakki 2021 Turk Uyku Tibbi Dernegi/Turk Uyku Tibbi Dergisi, Galenos Yayinevi tarafindan yayinlanmistir
ABSTRACT
Introduction: This study aims to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms, its influencing factors, and the relationship between loneliness, physical activity and depressive symptoms among individuals aged 65 years and above during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1093 older adults in Turkey. A Descriptive Data Form, the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly were used to collect data. In this study, the presence of depressive symptoms was the dependent variable;sociodemographic and individual characteristics, habits, history of chronic illness and COVID-19, perception of loneliness and physical activity level were independent variables. Result(s): The prevalence of depressive symptoms among older adults was 66.8%. Depressive symptoms were 3.96 times higher among women, 8.06 times higher in urban areas, 2.56 times higher among those who had equal income and expenses, and 2.78 times higher among older adults who had less income than expenses. Depressive symptoms were further 1.98 times higher among those who had chronic diseases and 25.54 times higher among those diagnosed with COVID-19. Additionally, depressive symptoms increased by 23.24 times among those who did not have a hobby, and 1.53 times for each one-point increase in the level of loneliness. No relationship was found between physical activity levels and depressive symptoms. Conclusion(s): The results show that two out of three older adults were depressed. Characteristics such as having had COVID-19, loneliness, and hobbies, were significant influencing factors of depressive symptoms among older adults. There is a need to adopt feasible and protective policies that cater to the needs and control the risk factors of older adults during the pandemic. Copyright © 2022, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.