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Introduction: Healthcare professionals' attitudes towards the elderly are at the basis of the healthcare services provided to the elderly. Although training in geriatrics is known to be necessary, when and how are still not clear. This study aims to evaluate the attitudes of Medical Faculty students towards the elderly and the change in their attitudes after watching a movie about elderly people. Materials and Method: The presented study is an interventional study that included 402 1st and 6th-grade medical students. A film named "AMOUR" which is about an aged couple's life events was watched. Attitude changes were analyzed pre and post-intervention via UCLA Geriatric Attitude Scale (UCLA-GAS) and Kogan Elderly Attitude Scale (KAOPS). Results: The data from 402 filled questionnaires were analyzed. Female ratio was 57.6% (n=103) in first year and 54.1% (n=73) in sixth year. Pre and post-intervention UCLA-GAS scores were 48.12±5.19 and 46.38±5.86, respectively (p<0.001). Similarly, the mean scores of the pre-and post-intervention KAOPS were found as 102.35±12.80 and 98.22±13.64 points, and the decrease was significant (p<0.001). There were a strong positive correlation between pre and post-intervention UCLA-GAS (r=0.648, p<0.001) and KAOPS (r=0.758, p=0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that female students have more positive attitudes than male students, and as the academic period increases, there is a decrease in students' positive attitude scores. Big family members have higher scores than nuclear family members while having a nursing home visit is not effective on the positive attitude towards the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Childhood obesity has been defined as a very serious public health issue. It was aimed to investigate the relationship between computer game addiction and obesity in 3rd and 4th grade elementary school students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, two separate questionnaires including demographic characteristics, physical activity, nutrition and computer game habits were applied to students and their parents. The students were also asked to fill the Computer Game Addiction Scale. Results: This study included 491 children and parents. Above the half (51.5%) were female and 69% were at normal weight. The body mass index (BMI) percentile values of children in the 8-9-year-old group were higher than those in the 10-11-year-old group (t=3.044; p=0.002). When children's computer game addiction was evaluated, it was found that while 86.9% of them were at low level of addiction, 12.7% were at moderate level of addiction. Having an overweight brother/sister, high paternal BMI, increase in time spent on screen, and low maternal education status increased BMI percentile values in children (p<0.05). As long as the time of playing computer game increased, it was observed that BMI percentile values also increased significantly (p=0.033). Conclusions: This study shows that the level of computer game addiction and the time spent on screen are factors that increase obesity. In addition, the high level of frequency of snack in children is supportive of this result. If the ways to fight obesity are to promote physical activity and to move away from sedentary life style in children, it is clear that measures should be taken regarding the time that they spend in front of the screen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the career preferences of intern physicians, the factors affecting these preferences, and their perspectives on family medicine residency. Method: In this descriptive study, final-year students at a medical school were asked to complete a questionnaire about their socio-demographic information, factors influencing their career choice, and their views on the discipline of family medicine. Results: The study involved 220 students with a mean age of 24.35±1.06 years (range: 23-29), of whom 63.2% (n=139) were female. The three most popular career choices were Dermatology (22.7%), Family Medicine (22.3%), and Psychiatry (17.3%). Among the interns, 87.3% (n=192) thought that family medicine was not sufficiently valued by society and 76.4% (n=168) by other specialists. The factors affecting the preference for family medicine specialty were determined as the ability to adjust working hours (p=0.005), less physical fatigue (p<0.001), less stress (p=0.012), establishing long-term relationships with patients (p=0.005), and providing work-life balance (p=0.038). Of the interns surveyed, 74.6% (n=164) believed that family physicians could provide most of the health services needed by patients but that they did too much simple and repetitive work (63.6%). Conclusions: It is seen that the specialty of family medicine ranked in the top three in career choices among the interns of this medical faculty. It is also important to note that the majority of the interns stated that family physicians were engaged in simple and repetitive tasks and had limited career opportunities when they could provide most of the health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Medical specialty training provides the physician with sufficient knowledge, skills, attitudes, and certain qualifications in the chosen field of medicine. In medical training, communication, social opportunities, appropriate goals, programs, and learning environments are crucial. This paper aims to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to evaluate the compliance of this training with the standards. Method: In this methodologic research, a draft scale consisting of 49 items was created in line with the literature, to evaluate the training both in the department and institution. Results: The study involved 497 residents from family medicine residency programs across Turkey. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Scale for Department Evaluation of Medical Specialty Training had four factors whereas the Scale for Institution Evaluation of Medical Specialty Training had three factors. The factorial structures of both scales were confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. The Cronbach's alpha values were 0.941 and 0.928, respectively. Moreover, both scales have high total variance explained. Conclusions: The Department Evaluation Scale for Medical Specialty Training consisting of 25 items and four factors, and the Institution Evaluation Scale for Medical Specialty Training consisting of 20 items and three factors are valid and reliable tools to evaluate medical specialty training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim: Teachers are in a good position to provide first aid to students with mental health problems. The aim of the study is to determine the attitudes of teachers towards individuals with mental health problems and the factors affecting them. Materials-methods: The research, which is a cross-sectional descriptive study, was conducted with teachers reached online via social media. Sociodemographic information form, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale and Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Illness Scale were applied to the teachers through Google forms. The data were evaluated with the SPSS 20 statistical program. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, 477 teachers were participated. Psychological Counseling and Guidance (PCG) teachers' "mental health ideology" (19.24±3.99) and "goodwill" scores (18.07±3.16) were found lower than the scores of preschool and classroom teachers (p=0.001; p=0.014). The goodwill score of male teachers (20.27±3.66) was higher than that of female teachers (19.38±3.19). The risk of anxiety was in 17.00% of the teachers participating in the study and the risk of depression was in 27.62%. The goodwill approach of teachers with anxiety risk to those with mental problems was lower than those without anxiety risk (p=0.003). Conclusion: It is noteworthy that the attitudes of teachers towards individuals with mental health problems are at a moderate level, and that the attitudes of teachers who are especially young, women and who frequently encounter these patients are negatively affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is stated that students cannot carry their knowledge on basic medical sciences that they gained with classical education to clinical classes and clinical practice and problem based learning (PBL) can compensate this drawback. It was aimed to evaluate the effect of PBL scenario written on this topic on level of knowledge about childhood poisoning of third class students who completed the most of theoretical pharmacology education. Materials and Method: A questionnaire form prepared by researchers was applied to randomly chosen PBL groups without writing names and on the basis of voluntariness before and after a case of childhood poisoning which was applied as the second PBL scenario in the second midterm of 2009-2010 academic years. Numbers, percentages, chi-square and student's t-test were used for evaluation of the questionnaire form comprised of demographic data, open-closed ended questions for measuring attitudes and level of knowledge against case of poisoning and statements as making a priority ranking. Results: In the study group, 89 students took part in pre-test and 96 students took part in post-test. In the answers to the list including the substances that are the most common causes of admission according to data of Refik Saydam National Poison Center (e.g. lotion, bath foam, cosmetics, water color and calamine lotions), the substances that the students stated to be toxic in pre-test were answered correctly in the post-test (p<0.05). Number of correct answers increased significantly for knowledge about commonly used drugs in clinical practice like anti-depressants, calcium canal blockers, oral antidiabetics that were marked as non-toxic by the students although they are toxic (p<0.05). While mean knowledge score for these 40 items was 17.52±5.82 in pre-test, it increased to 27.89±8.79 in post-test (p<0.001). Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that PBL scenario applied to the students who learned pharmacology theoretically led increase of knowledge in terms of childhood poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is stated that students cannot carry their knowledge on basic medical sciences that they gained with classical education to clinical classes and clinical practice and problem based learning (PBL) can compensate this drawback. It was aimed to evaluate the effect of PBL scenario written on this topic on level of knowledge about childhood poisoning of third class students who completed the most of theoretical pharmacology education. Materials and Method: A questionnaire form prepared by researchers was applied to randomly chosen PBL groups without writing names and on the basis of voluntariness before and after a case of childhood poisoning which was applied as the second PBL scenario in the second midterm of 2009-2010 academic years. Numbers, percentages, chi-square and student's t-test were used for evaluation of the questionnaire form comprised of demographic data, open-closed ended questions for measuring attitudes and level of knowledge against case of poisoning and statements as making a priority ranking. Results: In the study group, 89 students took part in pre-test and 96 students took part in post-test. In the answers to the list including the substances that are the most common causes of admission according to data of Refik Saydam National Poison Center (e.g. lotion, bath foam, cosmetics, water color and calamine lotions), the substances that the students stated to be toxic in pre-test were answered correctly in the post-test (p<0.05). Number of correct answers increased significantly for knowledge about commonly used drugs in clinical practice like anti-depressants, calcium canal blockers, oral antidiabetics that were marked as non-toxic by the students although they are toxic (p<0.05). While mean knowledge score for these 40 items was 17.52±5.82 in pre-test, it increased to 27.89±8.79 in post-test (p<0.001). Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that PBL scenario applied to the students who learned pharmacology theoretically led increase of knowledge in terms of childhood poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Turkish Journal of Family Practice began to be published in 1997 by Turkish Association of Family Physicians. The articles published in this journal may be the indicator of the interests of Turkish family physicians. The aim of this study is to analyze this journal as the main journal reflecting Turkish family practice from the first issue in 1997 to the last one printed in 2009 in a structural perspective. Methods: We analyzed the Turkish Journal of Family Practice articles since 1997 beginning with the first issue to the last issue of the 2009 in terms of number, content and topic of the studies. Results: There were 13 volumes and 44 issues printed in 13 years. 4 issues were regularly printed each year except 1999 in which two combined issues and 2000 and 2001 in which a single combined issue were printed. There were 418 articles in total 303 of them (72.5%) were articles in research, review, continuing medical education, case report and letters to the editor. Among all articles, 150 (35.9%) were research articles, 73 (17.5%) were reviews and 38 (9.1%) were continuing medical education articles. Conclusions: This study only shows the articles of Turkish family physicians in Turkish Journal of Family Practice during 13 years. Efforts about continuing medical education in this journal should especially be appreciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenteric lipodystrophy is a rare and benign disease characterized by non-specific inflammation of mesenteric fat. Nomenclature of the disease changes according to the histological features and clinical presentation. The etiology is still obscure, and the clinical presentation and laboratory tests are non-specific. In the majority of cases, the diagnosis is primarily based on computerized tomography (CT) features. There is no specific treatment available for mesenteric lipodystrophy. Radical surgical treatment is not advised. We report a case of distended abdomen caused by mesenteric lipodystrophy along with ultrasonography (US), CT and magnetic resonance (MR) findings and a review of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As health care delivery under managed care is rapidly chancing, primary care physicians (PCPs) who frequently see patients with skin disease in their practice should have the practicing knowledge to handle the most common skin diseases in order to manage of those cases. This study aims to determine the most common dermatologic diseases in primary care and to shed light on medical education. Patients and Methods: In this descriptive study, a retrospective chart review was performed in Campus Health Center of Selçuk University. Demographic data, diagnosis, laboratory tests, treatments or referrals to dermatology clinic were noted. Results: The mean age of the study population was 24.53±8.74 (min=1, max=72) years. A total of 60 skin problems were identified. The most common dermatologic problem was acne vulgaris (41.6%). Allergic-pruritic diseases and fungal infections were the second and the third main dermatologic diseases seen in 17.6% and 9.6% of the patients, respectively. Treatment was given to 87.8% of the patients. Conclusion: An improved record of patients will be valuable for the training of current and future family physicians in order to increase their practical performance and enhance their roles. Education of PCPs should include a definition of the most common diseases and their limitations in dealing with skin problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]