Health Care Workers In Turkey Research Articles

Evaluation of testing and vaccination status of healthcare workers in Turkey for hepatitis A: A multicenter study.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the disease and testing and vaccination status of healthcare workers in terms of hepatitis A infection as well as their awareness. This study is a multicenter descriptive study performed with healthcare workers. Testing status for hepatitis A, awareness of the results and vaccination status of healthcare workers were compared. Of the 12,476 healthcare workers participating in the study, only 65% (8,115 healthcare workers) had awareness of hepatitis A test results. Of the participants, 6,481 (66.3 %) stated that they were not vaccinated against hepatitis A. Vaccination rates against hepatitis A decreased with increasing age (P < .01). The rates of vaccination in all departments where participants worked were above 60% (P < .05). While the rate of protection among those working in departments creating a risk for hepatitis A virus infection was higher, no difference among vaccination rates was observed compared with the other departments. Vaccination of seronegative individuals is the safest way for hepatitis A, which can progress to fulminant hepatitis at advanced ages. It must be aimed primarily to increase the awareness of healthcare professionals and to increase the vaccination rates for hepatitis B and hepatitis A for the prevention of viral hepatitis. In our study, the awareness level was found to be above 50%, and the vaccination level was 35%, which is a rate that must be increased.

Qualitative examination of the attitudes of healthcare workers in Turkey regarding COVID‐19 vaccines

PurposeThe attitudes of healthcare workers toward COVID‐19 vaccines ensure that health services are able to run without interruption and potentially have a role in the messaging about vaccination that they convey to the public. Hence, healthcare workers’ attitudes ultimately have a significant role in controlling the pandemic. This study aimed to qualitatively investigate the attitudes of healthcare workers in Turkey in relation to COVID‐19 vaccines.MethodsThe study used the phenomenological approach. The sample consisted of 36 healthcare workers who were employed during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Data were collected online using focus group interviews. A total of four focus group interviews were conducted.FindingsFollowing analysis of the data, the attitudes of healthcare workers in Turkey toward the COVID‐19 vaccine were divided into three themes: “influencing factors,” “priority group” and “trust.”ConclusionsVaccination was found to create negative emotions among some of the healthcare workers. Their opinions about the COVID‐19 vaccines were affected by the negative emotions and burnout they experienced during the pandemic. In addition, they saw the vaccination process as impacted by contraindications and uncertainty about the duration of the protection, the balance of the benefits and harm of the vaccines, and by vaccine myths and prejudices about the country where the vaccine was developed. Healthcare professionals expressed the need for trust to be established in the whole vaccination process. They suggested that different vaccine options should be offered, that the appointment and process notification system for vaccination should be improved, that evidence‐based information about vaccines should be provided and that a safe environment should be created.Practice ImplicationsVaccine hesitancy can be addressed by careful attention to the application of vaccination programs, correct and effective use of social media, transparent, and precise management of political processes, and the provision of evidence‐based information about the vaccines.

The Prevalence of Violence against Healthcare Workers in Turkey and Employee Job Satisfaction

Aim: To reveal the different dimensions of workplace violence that healthcare workers are exposed to, and to evaluate the impact of exposure to violence on the job satisfaction of healthcare workers. Methods: The study sample comprises 169 people working in different positions in the hospital (doctor, nurse, secretary, assistant staff, etc.). The Workplace Violence Questionnaire and Job Satisfaction Scale were used to collect the study data. The questionnaire forms were distributed in closed envelopes according to the random sampling method, and were filled out by the volunteer participants themselves. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used to analyze the study data. Results: The results of the study show that more than half of the hospital staff (57.5%) had been exposed to violence in the last year; 54.8% of participants were exposed to verbal violence, 26% were exposed to physical violence, and 5.4% were exposed to sexual harassment. In addition, it was found that the job satisfaction levels of those individuals who were exposed to violence (16.71) were lower than the job satisfaction level of those who were not exposed to violence (18.59) (t = -2.793, p-value = 0.006). Conclusion: The study results show that healthcare workers are at serious risk of violence in the workplace. In addition, it is observed that exposure to violence negatively affects job satisfaction, which is important in regarding workplace attitude. Keywords: Health Workers, Workplace Violence, Job Satisfaction.

The impact of COVID-19-related mental health issues on menstrual cycle characteristics of female healthcare providers.

AimTo investigate the association between menstrual cycle regularity in healthcare providers and COVID‐19 pandemic‐related anxiety, depression, stress.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted by administrating online questionnaires to female healthcare workers in Turkey. Women aged 18–40 years with regular menstrual cycles for more than 1 year before the beginning of the pandemic were included in the study and they were divided into two groups according to menstrual cycle regularity during the pandemic. The questionnaires included sociodemographic characteristics, medical and reproductive history, lifestyle information of participants, COVID‐19 Stress Scales (CSS), and a short version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS‐21).ResultsA total of 952 women were included in the study, 679 had regular menstrual cycles, and 273 had irregular menstrual cycles. The prevalence of irregular menses among Turkish women healthcare workers aged 18–40 years was 28.7%. The CSS subdimensions and total scores were significantly higher in the irregular menstruation group than in women with regular menstruation (p < 0.001). The DASS‐21 depression, anxiety, and stress subdimensions were likewise significantly higher in women with irregular menstruation (p < 0.001). Besides, both the univariable and the multivariable logistic regression results showed the relationship between irregular menstruation and CSS total score.ConclusionThe current study showed the association between the COVID‐19 pandemic‐induced anxiety, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and increased prevalence of menstrual cycle irregularity among healthcare providers.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of CoronaVac Side Effects: An Independent Cross-Sectional Study among Healthcare Workers in Turkey.

Background: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a serious threat to mass vaccination strategies that need to be accelerated currently in order to achieve a substantial level of community immunity. Independent (non-sponsored) studies have a great potential to enhance public confidence in vaccines and accelerate their uptake process. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study for the side effects (SE) of CoronaVac was carried out in February 2021 among Turkish healthcare workers who were recently vaccinated. The questionnaire inquired about local and systemic SEs that occurred in the short-term, within four weeks, following vaccination. Results: A total of 780 healthcare workers were included in this study; 62.5% of them experienced at least one SE. Injection site pain (41.5%) was the most common local SE, while fatigue (23.6%), headache (18.7%), muscle pain (11.2%) and joint pain (5.9%) were the common systemic SEs. Female healthcare workers (67.9%) were significantly more affected by local and systemic SEs than male colleagues (51.4%). Younger age, previous infection, and compromised health status (chronic illnesses and regular medicines uptake) can be associated with an increased risk of CoronaVac SEs; Conclusions: The independent research shows a higher prevalence of CoronaVac SEs than what is reported by phase I–III clinical trials. In general, the results of this study confirm the overall safety of CoronaVac and suggest potential risk factors for its SEs. Gender-based differences and SEs distribution among age groups are worth further investigation.

Rate of History of Tuberculosis Among Healthcare Workers in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) possess a high risk for both latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active disease. This study aimed to investigate tuberculosis (TB) disease history in hospital staff working in healthcare institutions in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. This study included 460 HCWs employed in 5 hospitals in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. Between May 01 and July 31, 2016, the participants were asked to answer a questionnaire, including data about TB history. The data about family TB history, Bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination, or tuberculin skin test (TST) application before starting work were also evaluated. Of the 460 participants, 69.3% were women (n=319) and 30.7% (n=141) were men. The mean age was 32 (17-63) years. A total of 8 participants (1.7 %) had TB history. There was no statistically significant relationship between TB history and age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking habits, or presence of comorbidities (p>0.05 for all variables); family history of TB (p<0.001) and TST positivity (p<0.001) were significantly higher in participants with a TB history. Each participant was checked for the presence of both BCG scar and TST positivity. No difference was noted between positive TB history and negative HCWs (p>0.05). The duration of work (years) was higher in participants with a TB history. The p value was very close but did not reach the limits of significance (p=0.059). In this study, the rate of TB among HCWs was 1.7% (8 of 460 HCWs). Family history of TB and TST positivity are strong predictors of TB in HCWs.

The Problems of the Working Conditions, Environment and Health of the Older Health Care Workers in Turkey

The Problems of the Working Conditions, Environment and Health of the Older Health Care Workers in Turkey

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Intensive Care Unit Healthcare Workers in Turkey: A Tertiary Center Cohort Study

Aim: Intensive care unit (ICU) workers have a greater risk of being infected due to procedures requiring intensive contact with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19 ) patient We aimed to explain how we applied the protection of healthcare workers against the contagion of COVID-19 infection in the ICU of a university hospital Methods: The study was performed in ICUs of the Goztepe Training Research Hospital with 650 beds which was affiliated to Medeniyet University in Istanbul, Turkey We recorded the number of COVID-19 patients We also recorded ICU workers (doctor, nurse, and others), and their working layouts The frequency of the contagion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to ICU workers was investigated We also evaluated precautions for the prevention and evaluated the arrangement of ICUs for COVID-19 patients Results: Between March 17th 2020 and May 26th 2020 totaly, a total of 120 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were treated in ICUs Laboratory confirmed COVID-19 was detected in only one health-care worker in ICUs Conclusion: Our experience showed that the correct and proper use of personal protective equipment according to the protocols are effective in protecting ICU workers against the contagion of SARS-CoV-2

The Effect of Anxiety and Depression on Bruxism Among Healthcare Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease of pandemic proportions. Healthcare professionals who treat COVID-19 patients are exposed to a high risk of infection and long work shifts to meet the country’s health needs. This situation can lead to prolonged exposure to stress. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of bruxism, anxiety and depression and their relationships with each other. Materials and Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional survey study conducted through online channels. Health care workers in Turkey who were caring for patients with COVID-19 were invited to participate with a self-administered questionnaire to evaluate the frequency of bruxism, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale that was analyzed as global scoring, anxiety and depression sub-scale in addition to information on demographic characteristics. Results: Four hundred and twenty-one healthcare professionals were included in our study. The average age was 32.8 ± 7.06. Of the 263 people who did not have complaints before the pandemic process, 57 stated that they had suffered bruxism, and 32 stated that they had a sleep bruxism complaint at night for the first time. In anxiety and depression evaluations, women had significantly higher anxiety and depression scores compared to men (p<0.001). By profession, the highest anxiety (72.4%) and depression (63.8%) rates were in the auxiliary healthcare personnel. Conclusion: Working in pandemic affects health workers’ physical health as well as mentally like bruxism. It appears in parallel with the increase of anxiety and depression in Turkish health workers during pandemic.

Effects of occupational anxiety on ethical value tendencies in emergency healthcare workers in Turkey

Objective: Ethical values are moral values that are necessary in situations involving contradictions or the awareness of one’s own role and responsibilities in the existing situation. It is predicted that professional anxiety may affect the tendency of an individual related to ethical values. For this reason, this study aimed to analyze the effects of occupational anxiety in paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMT) on their levels of tendency towards ethical values. The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of paramedics and emergency medical technicians (n = 411). The data were collected by using a Personal Information Form, the Occupational Anxiety Scale for Emergency Healthcare Professionals and the Tendency towards Ethical Values Scale. Occupational anxiety levels (91.57 ± 13.09) and levels of tendency towards ethical values (72.50 ± 8.21) were found to be high in the paramedics and emergency medical technicians. A statistically significant relationship was found between the mean scores of the participants on the Occupational Anxiety Scale and their sociodemographic characteristics (gender, year of service, weekly working hours, willing choice of occupation, occupational satisfaction) (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, a statistically significant relationship was determined between the participants’ education levels and their mean scores on the Tendency towards Ethical Values scale (p &lt; 0.05). In the study, it was found that as occupational anxiety increased, the tendency to ethical values increased (p &lt; 0.001). As the levels of occupational anxiety in the paramedics and emergency medical technicians increased, their levels of tendency towards ethical values also increased.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of CoronaVac Side Effects: An Independent Cross-Sectional Study Among Healthcare Workers in Turkey

Background: COVIC-19 vaccine hesitancy is a serious threat to mass vaccination strategies that need to be accelerated currently for achieving a substantial level of community immunity. Independent (non-sponsored) studies have a great potential to enhance public confidence in vaccines and accelerate their uptake process.Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study for the side effects (SE) of CoronaVac was carried out in February 2021 among Turkish healthcare workers who got recently vaccinated. The questionnaire inquired about local and systemic SEs that occurred in the short-term, within four weeks, following vaccination.Findings: A total of 780 healthcare workers were included in this study; 62.5% of them experienced at least one SE. Injection site pain (41.5%) was the most common local SE, while fatigue (23.6%), headache (18.7%), muscle pain (11.2%) and joint pain (5.9%) were the common systemic SE. Female healthcare workers (67.9%) were significantly more affected by local and systemic SEs than male colleagues (51.4%). Younger age, previous infection, and compromised health status (chronic illnesses and regular medicines uptake) can be associated with an increased risk of CoronaVac SEs.Interpretation: The independent research shows a higher prevalence of CoronaVac SEs than what is reported by phase 1 – 3 clinical trials. In general, the results of this study confirm the overall safety of CoronaVac and suggest potential risk factors for its SEs. Gender-based differences and SEs distribution among age groups are worth further investigation.Trial Registration: The study protocol was registered in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) registry – NCT047706156Funding Statement: This study was supported by the INTER-EXCELLENCE grant number LTC20031 — "Towards an International Network for Evidence-based Research in Clinical Health Research in the Czech Republic".Declaration of Interests: None to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the General Directorate of Health Services of the Turkish Ministry of Health within the scope of the Public Health Law no. 1593; additionally, it had been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University (MUNI) on January 20th, 2021 (Ref. 2/2021).(16) All the participants had to provide their informed consent digitally before joining the study, and the data was stored and handled by MUNI in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).(

Influenza vaccination rates, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of healthcare workers in Turkey: A multicentre study.

AimInfluenza vaccination is the most effective method in prevention of influenza disease and its complications. Our study aimed to investigate the rates of vaccination and the behaviours and attitudes against the vaccine in healthcare workers in Turkey.MethodsThis multicentre national survey is a descriptive study in which 12 475 healthcare workers. Healthcare workers were asked to answer the questionnaire consisting of 12 questions via the survey.ResultsIt was found that 6.7% of the healthcare workers regularly got vaccinated each year and that 55% had never had the influenza vaccine before. The biggest obstacle against getting vaccinated was determined as not believing in the necessity of the vaccine (53.1%).ConclusionThe rates of influenza vaccination in healthcare workers in Turkey are quite low. False knowledge and attitudes on the vaccine and disease are seen as the most important reasons to decline vaccination. It is important to detect reasons for anti‐vaccination and set a course in order to increase the rates of vaccination.

Quality of Work Life and Burnout in Healthcare Workers in Turkey

Quality of work life (QWL) is important to healthcare organisations that aim to increase patient and employee satisfaction and produce quality healthcare services. The literature lacks research investigating the relationship between QWL and burnout among in healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study is to determine healthcare workers’ QWL and burnout levels and to investigate whether there is a correlation them. The research population consisted of all healthcare workers serving in a public hospital in Ankara. The study did not make a sample selection but tried to access the entire population; a total of 328 usable surveys were obtained. ‘Quality of Work Life Scale’ and ‘Maslach Burnout Inventory’ scales were used for this research. A correlation analysis was performed to determine the correlation between healthcare workers’ QWL and burnout levels. The analysis results showed that healthcare workers had ‘good’ perceived QWL and ‘moderate’ level of burnout. Additionally, there was a statistically significant but weak correlation between healthcare workers’ levels of QWL and burnout (ρ = 0.184; p = 0.0008). Results can be used by healthcare managers to implement appropriate initiatives to improve QWL and reduce burnout of healthcare workers.

The Relationship between Risk Levels of Breast Cancer and Use of Early Diagnosis and Screening Services in Healthcare Workers in Turkey.

Background:This study aimed to determine the factors affecting early diagnosis and screening behaviors of healthcare workers concerning breast cancer and the breast cancer risk levels using the risk identification model and to evaluate the relationship between breast cancer risk levels and early diagnosis and screening behaviors.Methods:Overall, 466 healthcare workers from Balikesir Province, Turkey participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected thanks to a questionnaire prepared by the researchers. Cuzick-Tyrer model was utilized to determine breast cancer risk levels.Results:78.1% of the healthcare workers regularly perform breast self-examination (BSE), 11.6% had clinical breast examination (CBE), 7.7% had breast ultrasound scan and 4.5% had mammography. BSE behavior increased, as education level got higher. Mammography screening behavior increased in those aged 40 yr and older and those with breast or ovarian cancer history in their family. There was not any relationship between breast cancer risk levels and early diagnosis and screening behaviors.Conclusion:Early diagnosis and screening behaviors of healthcare workers were low concerning breast cancer. Age, education level and family history are the most prominent factors affecting early diagnosis and screening behaviors of healthcare workers. Informing healthcare workers on breast cancer risk factors and screening can make positive contributions to them and the public through them.

Health Care Personnel’s Attitudes and Behaviours for Vaccination Recommendations of Health Care Providers

Objective: Although there is no mandatory vaccination schedule for health care workers in Turkey, several vaccines such as seasonal influenza, tetanus, hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), and varicella vaccines are recommended for all healthcare professionals. This study aimed to determine the attitudes and behaviors of health care workers to the recommended vaccines for themselves. Methods: The […]

Prevalence of Physical and Verbal Violence Against Health Care Workers in Turkey.

Workplace violence has affected many individuals in recent years, irrespective of age, gender, race, educational level, and sector. We analyzed the responses to the Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Study Questionnaire, applied online to 447 health care workers who worked in public or private health care institutions in different cities of Turkey. Frequencies, percentages, and a chi-square independence test were used for data analysis through SPSS 18. Of the participants, 37.4% were doctors, 61.3% were midwives-nurses or emergency medical technicians (EMT), and 1.3% worked in units with no direct contact with patients and relatives (such as management and the hospital pharmacy). A total of 36.7% of participants reported exposure to physical violence, and 88.8% reported exposure to verbal abuse at least once during their working lives. Many participants who were victims of physical violence or verbal abuse did not report incidents because they thought it would provide no benefits. Regulations on effective communication training, changes in workplace conditions, and effective implementation of violence prevention procedures may help to reduce the rates of verbal abuse and physical violence in the health care sector. In addition, when managers show support for their employees in the prevention of workplace violence, it may help employees to feel more secure in their workplaces.

Ethical problems in an era where disasters have become a part of daily life: A qualitative study of healthcare workers in Turkey.

BackgroundNatural disasters, armed conflict, migration, and epidemics today occur more frequently, causing more death, displacement of people and economic loss. Their burden on health systems and healthcare workers (HCWs) is getting heavier accordingly. The ethical problems that arise in disaster settings may be different than the ones in daily practice, and can cause preventable harm or the violation of basic human rights. Understanding the types and the determinants of ethical challenges is crucial in order to find the most benevolent action while respecting the dignity of those affected people. Considering the limited scope of studies on ethical challenges within disaster settings, we set upon conducting a qualitative study among local HCWs.MethodsOur study was conducted in six cities of Turkey, a country where disasters are frequent, including armed conflict, terrorist attacks and a massive influx of refugees. In-depth interviews were carried out with a total of 31 HCWs working with various backgrounds and experience. Data analysis was done concurrently with ongoing interviews.ResultsSeveral fundamental elements currently hinder ethics in relief work. Attitudes of public authorities, politicians and relief organizations, the mismanagement of impromptu humanitarian action and relief and the media's mindset create ethical problems on the macro-level such as discrimination, unjust resource allocation and violation of personal rights, and can also directly cause or facilitate the emergence of problems on the micro-level. An important component which prevents humanitarian action towards victims is insufficient competence. The duty to care during epidemics and armed conflicts becomes controversial. Many participants defend a paternalistic approach related to autonomy. Confidentiality and privacy are either neglected or cannot be secured.ConclusionIntervention in factors on the macro-level could have a significant effect in problem prevention. Improving guidelines and professional codes as well as educating HCWs are also areas for improvement. Also, ethical questions exposed within this study should be deliberated and actualized with universal consensus in order to guide HCWs and increase humane attitudes.

Stop the violence against health care workers in Turkey

Background Violence against health care workers (HCW) in health care settings is a significant phenomenon in recent years in Turkey. We aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors of the violence attacks against HCWs by this first study in Istanbul. Methods The study was conducted in two hospitals; Okmeydani Research and Training Hospital, which is a large tertiary hospital with 800 inpatient beds, and Sariyer Ismail Akgun Public Hospital, which is a local hospital with 50 inpatient …

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever among Health Care Workers, Turkey

We investigated 9 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (1 fatal, 2 asymptomatic) among health care workers in Turkey. Needlestick injuries were reported for 4 workers. Eight received ribavirin. In addition to standard precautions, airborne infection isolation precautions are essential during aerosol-generating procedures. For postexposure prophylaxis and therapy, ribavirin should be given.

Türkiye’de Sağlık Çalışanlarına Yönelik Şiddet: Sistematik Derleme

Amaç: Bu çalışma Türkiye'de sağlık çalışanlarına yönelik şiddetle ilgili Ocak 1999-Temmuz 2010 tarihleri arasında yayınlanmış çalışmaların gözden geçirilmesi ve çalışmalardan elde edilen verilerin sistematik biçimde incelenmesi amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Konuyla ilgili 41 ulusal ve uluslararası yayına ulaşılmış olup araştırmaya dahil edilme kriterlerine uygun olarak 29 yayın çalışma kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Tüm yayınlar çalışma yöntemleri ve bulguları açısından sistematize edilerek incelenmiştir. Bulgular: Bu sistematik inceleme sonunda sağlık çalışanlarına yönelik her türlü şiddet türünün yüksek olduğu, şiddetin en fazla hasta yakınları tarafından gerçekleştirildiği, bunu hastaların izlediği sonucu bulunmuştur. Genel olarak sözel şiddete uğramada kadınların, fiziksel şiddete uğramada erkeklerin, hem sözel hem de fiziksel şiddete uğramada yine kadınların ve meslek olarak da hemşirelerin daha riskli gruplar olduğu, saldırganların daha çok erkek ve ruhsal sorunları olan veya alkol bağımlısı, madde kullanıcısı kişilerden oluştuğu, saldırı nedeninin çoğunlukla organizasyonel sorunlardan kaynaklandığı, fiziksel şiddet bildirim oranının diğer saldırılara göre daha yüksek olduğu, saldırı sonrası mağdurlarda en çok emosyonel ve fizyolojik belirtiler görüldüğü ve genel olarak yetersiz baş etme düzeneklerinin kullanıldığı belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Dünyada olduğu gibi, Türkiye'de de sağlık çalışanlarına karşı şiddet önemli bir sorundur. Konuyla ilgili çalışmaların sistematize edilmesi ile sorunun önemi ve boyutları konusunda bilimsel kanıtlara ulaşılmıştır. Bu kanıtların hem gelecekte yapılacak çalışmaların kapsamlarını belirlemede, hem de klinik alanda sorunun çözümü için gerekli önlemlerin hazırlanmasında işlev göreceği düşünülmektedir.