INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mothers’ complementary feeding practices, mental well-being, and attitudes toward the feeding process during the complementary feeding period.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, data were collected from 369 mothers and their infants aged 12–24 months. The “Mother’s Attitudes Towards the Feeding Process Scale (MATFPS)” and the “Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)” were utilized for data collection. Demographic characteristics of the mothers and infants, breastfeeding behaviors, and complementary feeding practices were assessed.
RESULTS: The mean exclusive breastfeeding duration was 17.99 ± 7.07 weeks, and complementary feeding began at 5.52 ± 0.79 months. Overall, 56.4% of infants were exclusively breastfed for six months. Weak negative correlations were found between MATFPS and WEMWBS scores (p < 0.001) and between maternal age and WEMWBS scores (p = 0.01). WEMWBS score, feeding activities, complementary feeding method, and timing predicted MATFPS scores (R² = 0.21), while maternal age, number of children, and feeding activities predicted WEMWBS scores (R² = 0.13) (p < 0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The study showed that better maternal mental well-being positively influenced attitudes toward complementary feeding. Midwives, nurses, and nutritionists in primary health care can play an important role in improving complementary feeding practices. Increased health literacy among people with chronic diseases positively affects rational medicine use. Expanding education and counselling services in primary care is recommended to promote rational medicine use, support treatment adherence, and reduce preventable medication-related problems.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between fear of falling (FoF)- related avoidance behavior and activities of daily living in older adults.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April and July 2023 with individuals aged 65 years and older who presented to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital and met the inclusion criteria for the study. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (LIADLS), and the Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire (FoFABQ).
RESULTS: A total of 317 participants (mean age 71.5 ± 6.1 years) were included. Mean LIADLS and FoFABQ scores were 6.9 ± 1.5 and 10.6 ± 13.0, respectively. LIADLS scores showed a significant negative correlation with FoFABQ (r = –0.42; p<0.001) and age (r = –0.480; p<0.01). FoFABQ scores were positively correlated with age (r = 0.181; p<0.01) and BMI (r = 0.156; p<0.01). Participants with chronic diseases or medication use had higher FoFABQ and lower LIADLS scores (all p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Based on the distribution of FoFABQ and LIADLS scores, avoidance tendencies appeared generally modest, while functional independence was relatively preserved. Higher avoidance levels were associated with reduced daily living activity performance. Advanced age, higher BMI, chronic diseases, and medication use were also linked with greater avoidance and lower functional capacity. These findings underscore the need for interventions targeting both FoF and functional independence—particularly for older adults with a higher clinical burden.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, and diagnoses of patients admitted to the green zone of an emergency department following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes on February 6, 2023, to identify healthcare needs in the post-disaster period.
METHODS: In this retrospective descriptive study, a total of 12,890 patients admitted between February 13 and April 30, 2023, were analyzed based on ICD-10 codes. Age, gender, presenting complaints, and diagnoses were evaluated.
RESULTS: 12,890 unique green zone visits were included (46.5% female, 53.5% male). Admissions peaked in March, accounting for 44.3% of visits, with males consistently higher across all months. The 19–65 age group represented the majority (87.6%), followed by pediatric/adolescent (0–18 years) and elderly (65+ years) patients. A total of 948 ICD-10 diagnosis codes were recorded. The most frequent was Z00.8 – General Examination (29.1%), though it mainly reflected routine assessments. Other leading diagnoses included upper respiratory tract infections, musculoskeletal complaints, dermatological conditions, and eye diseases.


DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Effective management of patient load in emergency departments following disasters is crucial for ensuring the efficient use of limited healthcare personnel and resources. To this end, measures such as strengthening triage procedures, directing green zone patients to appropriate units, planning for additional staff and supplies, and informing the public should be incorporated into disaster preparedness plans.

INTRODUCTION: This study examines the relationship between health literacy (HL) and body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and healthy lifestyle behaviors in 526 adults attending primary care centers. Mediation analysis was used to assess both direct and indirect effects of HL on these outcomes.
METHODS: HL was measured using the Turkey Health Literacy Scale-32 (THLS-32). Independent variables included demographic characteristics, BMI, blood pressure, dietary habits, physical activity, and scores from the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-II (HLSBS). Chi-squared tests were applied for categorical variables, Student’s t tests for parametric data, and Mann-Whitney U tests for non-parametric data. GLM mediation analysis conducted in JAMOVI examined the role of HL in BMI, body fat, and mean arterial pressure (MAP), with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Among 526 participants, 40.7% were overweight, and 27.8% were obese, while 48.1% had sufficient-perfect HL. Individuals with inadequate-limited HL had higher BMI and blood pressure and lower engagement in healthy behaviors. GLM analysis showed HL was significantly and directly associated with BMI, fat mass, and MAP (β = −0.195, −0.139, and −0.146, respectively; all p < 0.001). However, healthy lifestyle behaviors did not mediate these associations.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: HL was independently associated with BMI, fat mass, and blood pressure, although the tested behavioral mediators did not explain this relationship. Health literacy plays a key role in health promotion. Health professionals should emphasize HL to improve lifestyle behaviors and reduce risks of obesity and hypertension. Practical strategies include HL-tailored patient education, simplified prescriptions, HL screening in routine care, individualized counseling, and community programs.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between depressive symptoms and caregiver burden among caregivers of patients with PUs (pressure ulcers) and to identify factors associated with these outcomes.
METHODS: This single-center, cross-sectional study included 106 caregivers of patients with PUs. Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were assessed using the ZBI (Zarit Burden Interview) and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory). Associations were examined using nonparametric tests, correlation analysis, and robust regression models because the outcome variables were not normally distributed.
RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 51.91 ± 11.55 years, and most were female. The median ZBI score was 22.5, and the median BDI score was 7. Caregiver burden and depressive symptom scores were positively correlated (Spearman’s rho=0.614, p<0.001). Higher scores were observed among unemployed caregivers (p=0.005 and p<0.001, respectively), those with insufficient income (p=0.014 and p<0.001, respectively), and those providing regular continuous care (p<0.001 and p=0.010, respectively). Scores were also higher among caregivers of patients with advanced-stage PUs and wound-related hospitalization. Higher caregiver burden was additionally associated with sole caregiving and larger wounds. In multivariable analyses, depressive symptoms were independently associated with caregiver burden and unemployment, whereas caregiver burden was associated with regular continuous caregiving, caregiving duration of 1–5 years, and larger wound size.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were closely related among caregivers of patients with PUs. Intensive caregiving, unemployment, and wound severity were associated with poorer caregiver outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to examine the use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) in palliative care patients; its relationship with pain intensity, levels of functional dependence, and attitudes toward complementary treatments; and to evaluate patients' willingness to share these practices with healthcare professionals.
METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the palliative care unit of a medical faculty hospital between May and July 2025. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional status with the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index, and attitudes toward complementary medicine with the Attitudes Towards Using Complementary Treatments Scale (ACTS).
RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included, of whom 73.6% reported using at least one officially recognized T&CM method. Family was the most common source of information (50.5%), and musculoskeletal pain was the primary reason for use (82.8%). Most patients (81.2%) did not disclose T&CM use to healthcare professionals. No significant relationship was found between the level of dependence and ACTS scores (p=0.547). While no significant association was observed between T&CM use and pain intensity or functional dependence (p=0,386 and 0,657), ACTS scores were significantly higher among users of phytotherapy (p=0.001), cupping therapy (p=0.029), osteopathy (p=0.001), reflexology (p=0.049), and music therapy (p=0.016).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study shows that T&CM use is common among palliative care patients, independent of pain intensity and functional dependency, and is largely associated with individual attitudes. Limited disclosure of T&CM practices to healthcare professionals underscores the need to routinely address T&CM use in palliative care assessments.

INTRODUCTION: The visibility of family medicine research may be influenced by publication channels, indexing categories, and inconsistently reported bibliographic metadata. This study evaluated the academic productivity, thematic profile, and bibliographic visibility of family medicine specialists in Türkiye, with particular emphasis on the role of standardized metadata.
METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science (WoS) were searched for articles published between 2013 and 2023 using affiliation- and address-based search strategies. Only articles and review articles were included. After screening and de-duplication, 2265 publications were analyzed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix. Institutional names, sources, author keywords, and cautiously identifiable author-name variants were standardized using VOSviewer thesaurus files and Bibliometrix-compatible CSV files. Publication output, journal distribution, WoS categories, collaboration patterns, citation indicators, and keyword trends were examined. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for PubMed-only records excluded from the final network analysis.
RESULTS: The final dataset included 2265 articles by 6843 authors, published in 735 journals and associated with 4491 author keywords and 1625 institutions. These publications received 13196 citations and cited 56121 sources. Only 13 journals were specific to family medicine. In WoS categories, Medicine, General & Internal accounted for 899 publications (39.69%), whereas Primary Health Care accounted for 62 publications (2.73%). Obesity, COVID-19, and depression were prominent themes.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Family medicine research in Türkiye demonstrates a broad interdisciplinary publication profile. However, dispersed publication channels and persistent metadata inconsistencies may reduce its traceability as a distinct primary care research field.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the expansion of family medicine in Türkiye, the absence of a mandatory referral system allows patients to bypass primary care. This study aimed to determine the first-point-of-contact preferences of adult patients presenting to a tertiary hospital and to evaluate factors associated with bypassing primary care, utilization patterns, and attitudes toward family medicine services.
METHODS: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and February 2022. A researcher-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, health utilization habits, and 16 statements regarding family medicine attitudes was completed by 439 volunteers aged 18 or older at a tertiary hospital.
RESULTS: A total of 367 participants (mean age 42.3±14.1 years; 65.1% female) were analyzed; of the 439 individuals approached, 72 were excluded because they did not complete the interview. In non-emergency situations, only 31.1% (n=114) preferred Family Health Centers (FHC) as their first point of contact, while 35.7% (n=131) preferred state hospitals. Multivariate logistic regression revealed no independent predictors of FHC preference (p>0.05 for all). While 62.4% utilized FHCs primarily for prescriptions, 55% identified their family physician as their first point of contact, 70% were satisfied with staff attentiveness, and 56.4% reported effective problem resolution.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Although patient satisfaction with FHC staff is high, only one in three patients utilizes primary care as their first point of contact.

INTRODUCTION: Maskne (mask-related acne) is a prevalent occupational dermatosis among healthcare trainees. This study aimed to investigate the clinical prevalence, associated factors, and the association between maskne and disease-specific quality of life among dentistry students.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 335 actively mask-wearing dentistry students. Maskne was definitively diagnosed via direct physician examination using standardized clinical criteria. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors were evaluated. Multiple logistic regression identified factors independently associated with maskne. The impact of the condition on psychosocial well-being was assessed using the Turkish Acne Quality of Life Scale (T-AQOLS) via multiple linear regression.
RESULTS: The overall clinical prevalence of maskne was 39.4%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that prolonged daily mask usage duration (OR = 1.189, p = 0.014), application of sunscreen (OR = 3.155, p = 0.007), and use of facial cleansers (OR = 3.704, p = 0.010) under the mask were major independent risk factors. Interestingly, smoking emerged as a protective factor against maskne (OR = 0.481, p = 0.023). In the multiple linear regression model, adjusting for confounding factors, the clinical presence of maskne was independently associated with a 7.02-point higher T-AQOLS score (p < 0.001), demonstrating a severe impairment in the students' psychological and social well-being.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Maskne represents a significant occupational and psychological burden for dentistry students. Preventive strategies should focus on optimizing mask-wearing durations within safe limits and avoiding the application of potentially comedogenic dermocosmetics under the mask, alongside providing early psychosocial support for affected individuals.

Social isolation is not merely a psychosocial experience but a major public health problem with established biological correlates, including increased cardiometabolic risk, inflammation, sleep–endocrine dysregulation, and immune dysfunction. Older adults are particularly vulnerable due to chronic disease burden, mobility limitations, and increasing care needs. Social prescribing is a person-centred approach that links individuals in primary care to non-clinical community resources through structured referral pathways, guided by the question “what matters to you?”.
This narrative review synthesises international evidence published between 2015 and 2025. PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus were searched using the keywords “social prescribing”, “older adults”, “loneliness”, “social isolation”, “primary care”, and “link worker”. Systematic reviews, policy frameworks, and implementation studies were prioritised, alongside grey literature from official sources including National Health Service (NHS) and World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Findings were thematically analysed across implementation models, outcome evidence, measurement frameworks, and adaptation to the Turkish primary care context.
Evidence suggests that social prescribing is associated with reductions in loneliness and social isolation, and improvements in mental well-being and social participation among older adults. Effective programmes emphasise the link worker role, personalised care planning, supported transitions to community activities, and regular follow-up. Standardised outcome measures such as WEMWBS, UCLA Loneliness Scale, EQ-5D, and health service utilisation indicators are recommended. Social prescribing represents a feasible strategy to address social isolation among older adults. Türkiye’s strong family medicine system and community-based resources provide a suitable foundation for pilot implementation.