The effect of the compassion levels of healthcare workers on their psychological well-being

BACKGROUND

A sense of compassion has a core importance in health service delivery. Research on the psychological impact of being compassionate on healthcare workers is limited.

OBJECTIVE

This research aims to examine the effect of compassion levels of healthcare workers on their psychological well-being.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The population of the research consists of health personnel working throughout Ankara, the capital. The study was carried out with 414 healthcare workers. A personal information form, compassion scale and psychological well-being scale were used in the research questionnaire.

RESULTS

A positive and significant relationship was found between compassion and psychological well-being scores. It was determined that compassion positively affected psychological well-being levels. The level of compassion showed that there was a significant difference between the groups according to the variables of gender, family structure, job satisfaction and whether they would choose the same profession again. The level of psychological well-being was found to be significantly different between the groups in education, job satisfaction and making the same profession choice again.

CONCLUSION

It is a professional requirement that health professionals in patient care have a sense of compassion and reflect this feeling in their conduct. Research shows that the greater the compassion, the higher the psychological well-being. Therefore, undertaking training initiatives to make healthcare workers more compassionate can contribute to patient care and at the same time to the psychological well-being of healthcare workers.

Chitosan gel formulations containing egg yolk oil and epidermal growth factor for dermal burn treatment

In the present study chitosan based gel formulations containing Egg Yolk Oil (EYO) and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) were formulated successfully aiming at enhanced topical treatment of dermal burns the combination of traditional approaches with modern drug delivery systems. Physicochemical properties of the formulations were analyzed and efficacy of the formulations prepared were evaluated versus a commercial product; Silverdin (1% silver sulfadiazine) in vivo on Wistar rats. Burns were generated on the back of the rats and at predetermined time intervals tissue samples were collected and evaluated histologically. The analyses showed that chitosan based gel formulations containing Egg Yolk Oil (E1) and chitosan based gel formulations containing EYO and EGF (M1) formulations seem to be better alternatives for Silverdin with a significant difference (p < 0.05) considering healing ranks of tissue samples.

Histological and immunofluorescence findings of non-follicular papulopustular lesions in patients with Behçet's disease

BACKGROUND

Papulopustular lesions (PPL), the most common type of cutaneous lesions in Behçet's disease (BD), clinically may not be differentiated from ordinary acne. Disagreement exists as to the exact nature of these acneiform and folliculitis-like lesions and whether to include them as a major criterion.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether PPL can be a useful tool for the diagnosis of BD when non-follicular lesions over the trunk or extremities were selected, and were correlated with histological and/or immunofluorescence study.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with BD (five women, 12 men; mean +/- SEM age, 32 +/- 7.9 years), were enrolled in the study with blind histopathological and immunofluorescence studies. Biopsies of the PPL and adjacent (approximately 2 cm distant) normal-appearing skin were performed from the extremities and trunk. Follicle-based acneiform lesions and those lesions over face were excluded. Histological evaluation primarily included epidermal and dermal alterations, cellular infiltration and vascular changes. We also performed direct immunofluorescence studies, using polyclonal antibodies for IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and fibrin.

RESULTS

Lesional specimens of the patients with BD revealed a significant leucocytoclastic vasculitis as compared with non-lesional skin (P<0.05). The vessels of the lesional skin showed a higher IgM deposition than non-lesional skin (52.9% and 17.6%) (P<0.05). IgG, C3 and fibrin deposits on the vessels of the lesional skin were also higher than non-lesional skin (35.3, 11.8%; 41.2, 17.6%; and 47.1, 17.6%, respectively), but the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that non-follicular PPL over the trunk or extremities are more specific, and immune complex-mediated vasculitis is likely to be the main feature of these lesions, as they are in other cutaneous lesions of BD.

Comparison of the effects of intralesional interferon alfa-2a, 2b and the combination of 2a and 2b in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma

Interferons (IFN), especially alfa-2a and 2b, are potent inhibitors of normal and malignant cell growth and effective choices in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the IFN alfa-2a and 2b, and whether this effect may be increased by their combination. A total of 45 patients with histopathologically confirmed BCC were divided into three groups, equally. Groups 1,2 and 3 were treated with intralesional IFN alfa-2a, 2b, and the combination of 2a and 2b, respectively. Lesions were injected three times weekly in Groups 1 and 2 (total ten injections). IFN alfa-2a and 2b were injected alternately in Group 3 (5 IFN alfa-2a and 5 IFN alfa-2b). Eight weeks after completion of therapy, cytologic specimens were taken, and all cases were evaluated clinically and cytologically. Ten (66.6%) patients had a complete response (CR) and 5 (33.3%) had a partial response (PR) in Group 1. Patients in Group 2 showed 10 (66.6%) CR, 4 (26.6%) PR, and 1 (6.6%) non response. In Group 3, 11 (73.3%) patients had CR and 4 (26.6%) had PR. Follow-up periods ranged from 6-24 months, and no recurrences have been observed. These results suggest that IFN alfa-2a, 2b, and the combination of 2a and 2b appear to be effective choices for the treatment of BCC; the effectiveness is not increased by their combination.

Keratoderma, hypotrichosis and leukonychia totalis: a new syndrome?

We report three members of a family with congenital hypotrichosis, characterized by trichorrhexis nodosa and trichoptilosis, dry skin, keratosis pilaris and leukonychia totalis. They also developed a progressive transgrediens type of palmoplantar keratoderma, and hyperkeratotic lesions on the knees, elbows and perianal region. As far as we are aware, this combination of clinical features has not been described previously.

Interferon therapy for Behçet's disease

BACKGROUND

Behçet's disease was first described in 1937 as a trisymptom complex. No standard therapy has been established. Its cause is presumed to be viral or immunologic.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine whether patients with Behçet's disease benefit from interferon, which has antiviral, immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and antitumoral properties.

METHODS

Fourteen patients were initially given 3 MU interferon alfa-2a subcutaneously three times per week. The doses were gradually increased to 12 MU. Each patient received a total dose of 216 MU during the 2-month study. Therapy with 9 MU interferon alfa-2a once a month was continued in half the patients. All patients were observed before and after treatment for 6-month periods, and all symptoms were recorded.

RESULTS

All patients were symptom free by the end of the 2-month treatment period. The frequencies of oral and genital ulcers as well as pustular vasculitis decreased significantly in the posttreatment period as compared with the pretreatment period.

CONCLUSION

The data suggest that interferon treatment appears to be effective for patients with Behçet's disease.

Efficacy of silver nitrate pencils in the treatment of common warts

Common warts are an important issue, especially in children and young adults. The methods proposed for common wart treatment are painful, destructive, and require special experience and devices. The chemical cauterization effect of silver nitrate on warts is noted in the classical pharmaceutical textbooks. In order to test this effect for this purpose, a placebo controlled clinical study was performed on 70 patients. On 35 randomly selected patients, a silver nitrate stick was used, and, on the other 35 patients, black ink was used. At the end of this study, of the patients treated with the silver nitrate stick, 15 (43%) were completely healed, 9 (26%) were partially healed, and 11 (31%) were not healed. Of the patients treated with black ink, 4 (11%) were completely healed, 5 (14%) were partially healed, and 26 (74%) patients were not affected. Thus the silver nitrate stick affected the warts of 24 (69%) patients. Therefore, this method appears to be an effective, economic, and easily applicable treatment for common warts.