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Palliative care is an emerging topic in Turkey within recent years. Currently, there are only few number of palliative care services across the country and majority of the centers are pain control units. Morphine consumption rate per capita is low, accessibility and availibility of morphine products are also limited. One of the main headings of Turkish Cancer Control Programme 2009-2015 is palliative care and a serial palliative care unit implementation with continuous training programmes is planned to be finalized untill 2015. This article reviews the current palliative care situation in Turkey, opioid availibility in Turkey and also briefly summarizes Pallia-Turk Project which is unique with respect to many different aspects for implementation, and can be a good model for many other countries that still did not have such an implemented palliative care program.

Birinci Basamakta Obezite Yönetimine Nitel Çalışmaların Katkısı Son yıllarda obezite eşlik eden morbidite ve mortalitesi nedeniyle önemli sağlık problemlerinden biri haline gelmiştir. Önerilen tüm tedavi yöntemlerine karşın sıklığı tüm dünyada artmaktadır. Obezite sorununa acil çözüm bulmak için yeni tedavi yaklaşımlarına ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bulaşıcı olmayan hastalıkların yönetiminde kilit role sahip olan aile hekimleri araştırmalarında nitel (kalitatif) ve nicel (kantitatif) yöntemleri bir arada kullanarak uygulamayı yönlendirecek önemli bilgiler elde edebilirler., Contributions of Qualitative Studies to Obesity Management in Primary Care Obesity has recently become one of the major health care problems because of its related morbidity and mortality. Despite all recommended treatments, incidence of obesity increases all over the world. New treatment approaches are needed for an immediate solution to this problem. The family physicians, who have key roles in management of non-communicable diseases, might produce important knowledge to guide practice, by using qualitative and quantitative research methods together.

Objective: To compare alcohol-based hand rubbing with hand washing using antimicrobial soap regarding antimicrobial efficacy and compliance with routine practice in hospital and intensive care units. Subjects and Methods: From February to June 2003, 35 nurses were randomly selected from a nursing staff of 141 and divided into two groups: hand rubbing and hand washing groups. Hand cultures were obtained before and after health care procedures. The nurses were observed on days 1, 7 and 14 of the study, in order to determine compliance and efficacy of the hand hygiene methods. Results: A total of 368 routine patient care activities were observed during the study period. Hand rubbing with alcohol-based solutions significantly reduced the bacterial contamination of the hands of the nurses more than hand washing with an antimicrobial soap (54 and 27%, respectively; p < 0.01). Compliance was also better in the hand rubbing group than in the hand washing group (72.5 and 15.4%, respectively; p < 0.001). Compliance with hand rubbing was markedly lower among the nurses who had experience of more than 3 years in hospital practice. Both hand rubbing and hand washing compliance were poorer among nurses working inintensive care units than among nurses working in the other hospital wards. Generally, after taking off gloves, nurses preferred hand washing to hand rubbing. Conclusion: These data indicate that alcohol-based hand rubbing reduces mean bacterial counts on the hands of nurses more effectively than hand washing with antimicrobial soaps, and compliance rates with hand rubbing were also higher than with hand washing. Nevertheless, the compliance with hand rubbing was markedly lower in more experienced nurses.

WOS:000221406300013 PubMed: 15133145 Aims To evaluate the prevalence of exposures to potentially infective biological material, the use of gloves and the presence and awareness of skin abrasions amongst health care workers (HCWs). Methods Analysis of reported exposures during a 12 month period, questionnaire and skin examination by a dermatologist on HCWs at the University Hospital in Duzce, Turkey. Results Out of 415 HCWs, 278 responded to the questionnaire giving a response rate of 67%. There were 152 potentially infectious exposures reported on the questionnaire. Only 14% (21) of exposures were recorded between October 2001 and October 2002 at the time of the incident. Sharps injuries (57%) were reported most frequently in nurses, while splashes to mucous membranes occurred most frequently in physicians (36%). The operating theatre was the major location of incidents (56%). The frequency of abrasions on the hands was higher in female HCWs (60%) (P < 0.05). Wearing gloves for all procedures was most common in laboratory workers (60%). Abrasions were found on the hands of 142 (51%) of 278 HCWs. Sixteen per cent of the HCWs were unaware of abrasions on their hands. Conclusion There appears to be under-reporting of potentially infectious exposures by HCWs. HCWs are not always aware of abrasions on their hands. This study reinforces the need to report exposures and to use personal protective equipment.