Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Validity, and Reliability Study of the Turkish Version of the Back Pain Functional Scale

Gokhan Maras,Shahed Sheidayi,Gokhan Yazici,Melek Volkan Yazici,Gurkan Gunaydin,Seyit Citaker 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.4

Study Design: Prospective study. Purpose: To investigate the cross-cultural adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Turkish version of the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS). Overview of Literature: Low back pain is a common disorder in the population that negatively affects the patient’s daily, professional, and social life. Self-report questionnaires are important to precisely evaluate back pain and making better and appropriate treatment decisions. Currently, there are several questionnaires for investigating mobility in patients with low back pain. Methods: We recruited 360 patients with chronic low back pain. For assessing the reliability of the scale, we performed test–retest and internal consistency analyses. Test–retest analysis was performed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Internal consistency was analyzed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha value. Construct validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by comparing total scores on the BPFS with those on Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) using Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis. Results: Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.910, indicating high internal consistency. The test–retest reliability was excellent (ICC, 0.958; 95% confidence interval, 0.710–0.908). No floor or ceiling effects were observed. Factor analysis indicated that the scale had a single-factor structure. Pearson correlation coefficient was −0.669 when BPFS was compared with RMDQ and −0.701 when compared with ODI. These values indicate a significant correlation of BPFS with RMDQ and ODI. Conclusions: These data indicate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the BPFS.

Exploring Communication Difficulties in Pediatric Hematology: Oncology Nurses

Citak, Ebru Akgun,Toruner, Ebru Kilicarslan,Gunes, Nebahat Bora Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Background: Communication plays an important role for the well being of patients, families and also health care professionals in cancer care. Conversely, ineffective communication may cause depression, increased anxiety, hopelessness and decreased of quality life for patients, families and also nurses. Objective: This study aimed to explore communication difficulties of pediatric hematology/oncology nurses with patients and their families, as well as their suggestions about communication difficulties. Materials and Methods: It was conducted in a pediatric hematology/oncology hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Qualitative data were collected by focus groups, with 21 pediatric hematology/oncology nursing staff from three groups. Content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Findings were grouped in three main categories. The first category concerned communication difficulties, assessing problems in responding to questions, ineffective communication and conflicts with the patient's families. The second was about the effects of communication difficulties on nurses and the last main category involved suggestions for empowering nurses with communication difficulties, the theme being related to institutional issues. Conclusions: Nurses experience communication difficulties with children and their families during long hospital stays. Communication difficulties particularly increase during crisis periods, like at the time of first diagnosis, relapse, the terminal stage or on days with special meaning such as holidays. The results obtained indicate that pediatric nurses and the child/family need to be supported, especially during crisis periods. Feeling of empowerment in communication will improve the quality of care by reducing the feelings of exhaustion and incompetence in nurses.

Soft k-int-ideals of semirings and its algebraic structures

Filiz Citak,Naim Cagman 원광대학교 기초자연과학연구소 2017 ANNALS OF FUZZY MATHEMATICS AND INFORMATICS Vol.13 No.4

In this study, we first give a definition of soft int-ideal and soft k-int-ideal of a semiring by using intersection operation of sets with their properties. We then define a soft k-product of two soft left k-int-ideals and investigate their algebraic structures.

Lateral Locked Plating or Dual Plating: A Comparison of Two Methods in Simple Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fractures

Caner Citak,Cemil Kayali,Firat Ozan,Taskin Altay,Huseyin Gokhan Karahan,Kamil Yamak 대한정형외과학회 2019 Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery Vol.11 No.2

Background: In this study, our aim was to compare the results of the dual locking plate fixation technique and lateral locking plate fixation technique for tibial bicondylar plateau fractures without posteromedial fragment. Methods: We evaluated 20 patients who underwent surgical treatment due to bicondylar tibial plateau fracture between 2010 and 2015. Ten patients were included in group 1, in which a dual locking plate was employed, whereas 10 patients were included in group 2, in which a lateral locking plate was used. In both groups, functional and clinical outcomes after treatment were rated according to the Knee Society Knee Scoring System, Rasmussen functional score, and Rasmussen radiological score. Results: The mean follow-up time was 24 months. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to functional and radiographic outcomes at the final follow-up. Conclusions: In bicondylar tibial plateau fractures without posteromedial fragment, the lateral locking plate fixation technique showed the similar clinical and radiological outcomes as the dual locking plate fixation technique.

Effect of Powder Size on Infiltration Height in Producing MgO Reinforced Al Matrix Composite by Vacuum Infiltration Method

Calin Recep,Citak Ramazan 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

The vacuum infiltration method is one of the composite producing methods. There are several parameters in composite production by vacuum infiltration. One of them is particle size of reinforcement in particulate reinforced composites. In this study, MgO powder and Al were used as reinforcement and matrix respectively. MgO powders with different size and amount to give same height were filled in quartz tubes and liquid metal was vacuum infiltrated into the MgO powder under same vacuum condition and for same time. Infiltration height was measured and microstructure and fracture behavior of composite were investigated. It has been found that infiltration height and fracture strength were increased with particulate reinforcement sizes. It has also been determined that molten metal temperature facilitates infiltration.

Is There a Relationship Between Corporate Governance and Value-based Financial Performance Measures? A Study of Turkey as an Emerging Market

Ali Bayrakdaroglu,Ersan Ersoy,Levent Citak 한국증권학회 2012 Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies Vol.41 No.2

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of value-based performance measures – economic value added (EVA), market value added (MVA) and cash value added (CVA) – with corporate governance using data on 41 corporations listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange-100 Index. Multiple panel regression is used covering the 1998–2007 period. The findings indicate that EVA, MVA, and CVA increase if the CEO is a member of the board at the same time, and board size does not significantly affect performance. Ownership concentration is significantly related to all performance measures except for MVA, while manager ownership is not a significant variable in increasing corporate performance. Foreign ownership is found to increase EVA but decrease MVA.

Bifunctional Fe-SBA-15-SO₃H Mesoporous Catalysts with Different Si/Fe Molar Ratios: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Activity

Erdem, Sezer,Erdem, Beyhan,Oksuzoglu, Ramis Mustafa,Citak, Alime Korean Chemical Society 2013 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.34 No.5

Bifunctional Fe-SBA-15-$SO_3H$ mesoporous materials with different Si/Fe molar ratios (3, 5, and 7) have been synthesized via a simple direct hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, $N_2$-adsorption/desorption, TG/DTG and FT-IR techniques, and used as solid acid catalysts in the esterification of lactic acid with methanol. XRD and $N_2$ sorption characterizations show successful iron doping within the mesoporous channels of SBA-15-$SO_3H$. The FT-IR and TG/DTG characterizations also reveal the presence of iron. With the incorporation of Fe ions into the SBA-15-$SO_3H$, the acid sites substantially increased because of the self-separated acidity of the hydrolysis of $Fe^{3+}$ solutions. However, in the Si/Fe = 3 molar ratio, the catalytic conversion decreased which is caused by the reduced cooperation effect between the acid pairs due to the weakened hydrogen bonds and collapse of the pore structure. This further suggests that the mesoporous structure decreases with the decrease in Si/Fe ratio.