Effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions in the workplace: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Workplaces are suitable areas for smoking cessation programs and incentives. This study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of interventions in the workplace for smoking cessation in working individuals. METHODS: All studies published in English between 2013 and 2022 were searched in Pub Med, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases. Meta-analysis was based on PRISMA 2020. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO. A random effects model was applied to the meta-analysis processes, and Hedges' g was used to calculate the effect size. RESULTS: Of the included studies, 11 were randomized controlled trials, and 8 were cluster randomized controlled trials. In different working sectors, various interventions such as motivational/individual interviews, group counseling, telephone coaching, web-based training, mindfulness meditation, and financial interventions were implemented. These interventions were carried out alone or in combination with one or more other interventions. The interventions generally have short-term effects, and financial incentives or supports were the factors that positively motivate the interventions. The joint effect size of attempts to quit smoking in the workplace (Hedges' g) was 1.171. Heterogeneity between studies was significant (Q = 199.762, p = 0.015, I2 = 80.477%). No publication bias was detected. CONCLUSIONS: We determined that smoking cessation interventions applied in the workplace have a large effect. We recommend that the long-term effects of increasing effectiveness of these interventions be considered and planned in line with the needs of working groups.

Psychological Distress, Depression, and Anxiety in Nursing Students: A Longitudinal Study.

The aim of this longitudinal study is to determine how stressful life events, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety change in a cohort of students from one nursing faculty during the education process and to document the factors related to psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety during the fourth year of education. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied to students within the faculty of nursing within the first week of the 2018-2019 academic year. All students were asked to answer a questionnaire measuring their possible stressful life events (first timepoint). The process was repeated for the same students again in the fourth year (second timepoint). The changes between the two timepoints were examined. Nursing students' GHQ-12 and STAI scores and averages increased significantly from first timepoint to second timepoint (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms for the ≥21 cut-off point of BDI in the fourth year of the study cohort. A significant increase in perceived stress levels between the two timepoints was also found for numerous stressful life events. As a result of linear regression, "dissatisfaction with major" was found as a determinant on all scale scores. The psychological indicators increased significantly in nursing students during their education. Interventions to reduce stress, anxiety, and psychological distress are needed to improve the mental health status of nursing students.

The prevalence and associated factors of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in Turkish children and adolescents.

AIM: We aim to determine the prevalence and related risk factors of asthma and allergic diseases in school children and adolescent in Konya, Turkey, and to compare this prevalence with that of 11 years ago. METHODS: This descriptive correlational study also includes the third phase of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood protocol. A total of 2220 students aged between 6 and 18 took part in this study. RESULTS: In our study, prevalence of wheezing of 21.8%, eczema of 4.3%, and allergic rhinitis of 43.2% were found in students until this age. In the study, student smoking, school location, history of asthma in the family, mold or moisture at home, and mother's smoking now were related factors for wheezing, while eating habits, breastfeeding, and student's gender were determined as related factors for allergic rhinitis symptoms in the past 12 months. In addition, having a pet, eating habits, and school level were determined as related factors for eczema symptoms in the past 12 months (p < 0.05). As a result of comparison of the findings of this study with the results of the study conducted by Güner et al., it was determined that the rates of wheezing and allergic rhinitis had increased, whereas the rate of eczema had decreased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was determined that under the effect of urbanization in Konya, the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis in students had increased, while the prevalence of eczema had decreased.

Prevalence of obesity and hypertension in children and determination of associated factors by CHAID analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and hypertension in children is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and increases the prevalence of heart failure and associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension, as well as the associated risk factors, in school-age children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 21 schools in Antalya, Turkey. A total of 5160 students between the ages of 5 and 15 years participated in the study. The data were collected using a questionnaire, and students' height, weight, and blood pressure were measured. The data were evaluated using numbers, percentages, mean, and chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis. RESULTS: In all, 11.4% of children were overweight, 11.8% were obese, 6.8% had prehypertension, and 5.7% had hypertension. School level, school location, and father's educational status were determined as factors associated with overweight and obesity; BMI, school level, school location, and mother's working status were determined as factors related to hypertension in the children. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension, overweight, and obesity was found to be significantly high in the children, especially those living in rural areas. Therefore, it is recommended that these health issues be monitored in children and that necessary measures be taken by considering regional differences.

The Effect of Nurse-Led Diet and Physical Activity Program for Health on Diet and Physical Activity Behavior of Children.

BACKGROUND: Many health problems encountered in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood periods arise from problematic eating behavior, an unhealthy dietary approach, and inactive lifestyles. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the Diet and Physical Activity Program for Health, under the leadership of a nurse, on the dietary and physical activity behaviors of children. METHODS: This study was planned in a quasi-experimental design with pretesting, posttesting, follow-up testing, and a control group. The study was conducted with 114 students in 2 schools. A total of 12 hours of training was given to the experimental group for 6 weeks. Institutional permission required for performing the study and an ethical consent from the commission for clinical trials of Marmara University institute of health sciences were received. RESULTS: The results of the study reveal that Diet and Physical Activity Program for Health in posttest and follow-up periods was effective in improving dietary and physical activity behaviors of children within the program. However, the program's effect on dietary and physical activity self-efficacy was limited. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that this program was effective in development of children's behavior regarding diet and physical activity.

Cultural sensitivity levels of university students receiving education in health disciplines.

Medical and nursing students are expected to be more competent in terms of being acquainted with different cultures and approaching culturally, compared to many other disciplines. This descriptive study was designed to evaluate the cultural sensitivity levels of nursing and medical students and the affecting factors. One hundred and eleven nursing and 164 medical students were included in the study. The data were collected by using a questionnaire questioning the variables that were thought to affect the cultural sensitivity of students and the intercultural sensitivity scale. According to results of the study; it was observed that university students receiving education in the fields of medicine and nursing had good cultural sensitivity levels and those interacting with people from other cultures and speaking a foreign language had significantly higher cultural sensitivity levels (p < 0.05). According to these results, it was thought that it would be useful to develop plannings aimed at increasing the language proficiency in university curriculums and abroad experience opportunities of students, and to design qualitative studies based on interviews and observations aimed at examining the factors affecting the intercultural sensitivity.

The opinions of employed mothers about their own nutrition during lactation: a questionnaire survey.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the study was to identify the changes employed mothers of infants aged 0-24 months made in their nutrition with the aim of increasing their milk production and extending their breastfeeding period. METHODS: The 135 full-time employed mothers enrolled in this study came to the Well-Child Clinic at Akdeniz University Hospital. Dietary data were collected from the mothers via a questionnaire prepared by the researchers to elicit details about what kind of foods or nutrition supplements women added, avoided or were recommended to avoid or add to their diets and why. RESULTS: All the mothers made changes in their diets while breastfeeding. The number one change that mothers made in their diet in order to increase milk production was to increase their fluid intake (38.6%) while the second was to increase their consumption of sweets (25.3%). The main type of food mothers were advised to avoid were dried legumes and grains (28.9%). The most important reason for this was the belief that they increased the chance of newborn colic (89.4%). There were statistically significant differences between foods avoided by breastfeeding mothers related to their age (chi(2)=6.88, p=.009), education level and those who mentioned increasing their consumption of fluid while breastfeeding (chi(2)=13.12, p=.000). CONCLUSIONS: All of the mothers espoused specific practices, and had been given recommendations by others about their nutrition while breastfeeding. Mothers need to be informed about the factors that increase and decrease milk production and affect infant colic, and should be encouraged that they can successfully breastfeed without increasing their consumption of sweets or avoiding dried legumes and some vegetables.