Antibiotic resistance rate of the Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a university affiliated hospital in North Cyprus

Background: Over the past 20 years, studies have indicated that the increasing spread of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) demonstrates the need for adequate information about their epidemiology. This study was conducted in order to investigate the resistance rate of MRSA which were isolated from the Near East University (NEU) Hospital, North Cyprus. Methods: MRSA was isolated and identified by using selective media and the Phoenix BD 100 system (software version 6.01A) was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and identification. The antimicrobial susceptibility results were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standarts Institute (CLSI) and the resistance rates of MRSA isolates to antibiotics were examined retrospectively. Results: The highest number of samples were from the departments of chest disease (24%) followed by dermatology (21.3%) and cardiology (18.7%). Out of 75 MRSA strains,; 29.7% from blood, 25.3% from wound, 14.7% from nasal swabs, 10.7% from aspiration fluids, 9.3% from sputum, 6.7% were from urine, 4.0% from IV catheters culture samples. All strains of MRSA were 94.7% sensitive to vancomycin and teicoplanin. Conclusions: The obtained results revealed that preventative measures should be implemented in order to minimize the bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21(1) 2022 Page : 101-104

Oral Cancer Knowledge and Awareness among Patients Referred to a University Dental Hospital in North Cyprus

Public knowledge about oral cancer may help to prevent and detect the disease at an early stage. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and knowledge levels on oral cancer symptoms and risk factors among patients attending a faculty of dentistry in North Cyprus. A total of 250 adult dental patients participated voluntarily in a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic profile, oral cancer awareness, and knowledge. A total of 54.8% of the participants were male and 91.2% of the participants had a high school diploma and above education. Most participants were knowledgeable about oral cancer symptoms and a majority of them identified oral ulceration (64%). Tobacco cessation was the most selected option for protecting from oral cancer (79.6%). Significant differences were found between genders in current smokers, past tobacco users, alcohol users, and HPV awareness questions (p < 0.05). Furthermore, awareness and knowledge questions were compared between smoker and non-smoker participants and significant differences were found in the answers of ‘alcohol may cause mouth cancer’ and ‘quit tobacco use to prevent oral cancer’ (p < 0.05). This study showed that most of the participants were aware that tobacco cessation reduces the risk of oral cancer. The survey results showed that patients in North Cyprus are generally aware of the risk of tobacco-related oral cancer, but they demonstrate lower knowledge about other risk factors.

Prevalence and Patterns of Sport Supplements Use among Gym Attendants and Competitive Athletes in North Cyprus

Aims: The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the prevalence, motivation for use, information and purchase sources of supplements among male competitive team sports athletes and recreational gym users in North Cyprus. Study Design: The sample size was calculated based on the total population size according to the reports obtained from the gyms and the records of the related federations (soccer, basketball, volleyball) of TRNC. For a confidence level of 95 % and a confidence interval of 2.5 %; the required sample size was calculated as 804. The study covered more participants to ensure the statistical power to remain over 80 %. Calculations were performed with G*Power (for Mac Version 3.1.9.3). Place and Duration of Study: 8 gyms located in 6 different districts in Northern Cyprus between june2020 and July 2020. Methodology: A structured questionnaire measuring prevalence and patterns of supplements was administered to 902 participants (329 gym attendants, 562 team sports athletes, 18-40 years old, men). Statistical differences between sex, age group and sports participation were done by using a Chi-square analysis. Differences were considered significant at a p-value <0.05. Results: Overall, 54% of all subjects reported use of dietary supplements, showing a significantly higher percentage among gym attendants (62%) compared to team sport athletes (50%). The most popular dietary supplement among all subjects was protein (46.9%), followed by amino acids (22.6%), multivitamins (20.7%) and creatine (18.8%). Overall, the most important reasons for using supplements were increasing strength (52%), increasing energy (37.6%), insufficient nutrition (32.4%) and increase durability (32.4%). Trainers were the most common source of information for both groups and overall (33.5%), followed by gym friends for the gym attendants and pharmacies for the team sport athletes (30.2%). Conclusion: The prevalence was higher among the gym attendants compared to competitive athletes. This finding is in conflict with the related literature. It might be explained by the low level of competition and athletic performance in North Cyprus. The most popular source of information was trainers in our study and these findings were in compliance with the related literature.

Teacher Burnout: A Case Study among EFL Instructors at the English Preparatory Schools at Universities in North Cyprus

The job of being an English language instructor is both demanding and challenging. Recently many researchers have been paying attention to determine teachers’ attitudes, burnouts, and self-efficacy towards the subject and to find a relationship between those psychological concepts and certain variables. However, there is not much research done in the field of English language teaching in North Cyprus, Turkey, and in the Middle East regarding EFL teacher burnout and self-efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the perceived levels of burnout among EFL Instructors at the English Preparatory Schools in Girne American University, Near East University and the European University of Lefke in North Cyprus using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Education Survey developed by Friedman. The study, in which 51 EFL instructors participated found that instructors experienced low levels of emotional exhaustion, low levels of depersonalization in relationships with students, colleagues, and others, and a high level of personal accomplishment in their work. An EFL instructor’s age, marital status, work experience, weekly teaching hours, job status, native or non-native status do not seem to influence instructors’ responses on each of the sub-scales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. However, variables gender and the university they work to influence their responses related to emotional exhaustion, but they do not influence their responses related to depersonalization and personal accomplishment scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Road Traffic Accidents in North Cyprus

Road traffic accidents are a global issue. North Cyprus exhibits a similar trend to the rest of the world. Urbanization and the increasing number of vehicles come along with the increase of road traffic accidents. The objectives of the current study are to draw attention to the issue of road traffic accidents and to identify which factors are the main causes of road traffic accidents in North Cyprus. This article follows a two-stage study to examine the causes of this critical issue. In the first stage, a survey was conducted to determine local public opinions. The participants were asked about how environmental factors, vehicle factors, human factors, and road factors impact accidents. According to the survey outcomes, human factors and road factors have the most significant impact. In the second stage of the study, official data from official statistics were considered. The number of accidents, fatalities, and injured people are indicated initially followed by the causes of accidents. Negligent driving and speeding were identified to be the most frequent causes within the studied period. At the end of the study, the common causes of accidents in official statistics and in survey results were specified. Negligent driving and over-speeding were the major causes of road traffic accidents according to the results.

An integrative model of patients’ perceived value of healthcare service quality in North Cyprus

Background Improving healthcare quality has become an essential objective for all health institutions worldwide to address the need to improve services, manage costs and satisfy patient expectations about the quality of care. As health is one of the leading service sectors of the North Cyprus economy, analysing patients’ perceived value of healthcare service quality is crucial. In this research, a comparative analysis of existing models revealed affordability, acceptability and accessibility as the leading modern service quality indicators affecting patients’ perceived value of healthcare service quality. The quality of services is a leading factor impacting business competition and retention dictated by the current market. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence patient perceptions of healthcare service quality in North Cyprus. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was carried out among 388 patients of public and private hospitals in North Cyprus, and the data were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling. Results Empirical results highlight that the acceptability of healthcare services is a prerequisite for perceiving a high value of service quality. The affordability and accessibility of services, respectively, were less effective. Results concerning mediating effects confirm that acceptability could fully mediate the relationship between affordability and perceived value and could partially mediate the impact of accessibility on the perceived quality of healthcare services. Conclusion This study contributes to healthcare theory and practice by developing a conceptual framework to provide policymakers and managers with a practical understanding of factors that affect healthcare service quality.

Mosque Architecture in Cyprus—Visible and Invisible Aspects of Form and Space, 19th to 21st Centuries

A comprehensive analysis of Cypriot mosque architecture between the 19th and 21st centuries, from the Ottoman and British colonial periods to the present, does not exist. The phase after 1974, after the division of the island into a Turkish Cypriot, predominantly Muslim north and a Greek Cypriot, mainly Christian south, is especially insufficiently studied. This paper aims to interpret Cypriot mosque architecture and its meaning(s) through a comparative analysis, considering cultural, religious, and political developments. Based on an architectural survey and studies about Muslim Cypriot culture, this study investigates formal and spatial characteristics, focusing on the presence/absence of domed plan typologies and of minarets which, as visual symbolic markers, might express shifting cultural-religious notions and/or identities. Inconspicuous mosques without domes and minarets dominate until 1974. However, with the inter-communal tensions in the 1960s, the minaret possibly became a sign of Turkish identity, besides being a cultural-religious marker. This becomes more obvious after 1974 and is stressed by the (re)introduction of the dome. Since the late 1990s, an ostentatious and unprecedented neo-Ottoman architecture emphasizes visible and invisible meanings, and the Turkish presence in Cyprus stronger than before. The new architectural language visually underlines the influences from Turkey that North Cyprus has been experiencing.

Financial Stability and Economic Growth: Evidence from North Cyprus

Given the importance of public debt for financial stability and economic progress, this article examines the unstable economic growth rate in Northern Cyprus. The causal relationships between public debt, public expenditures, total capital, consumption, investment, employment, net exports, and GDP growth rate are questioned. This study used annual time series data between 1980 and 2018 obtained from the State Planning Organization. An unrestricted VAR model was used to test the causal relationship of these variables. Findings show that public debt has no direct effect on GDP. However, it indirectly affects the total capital and government expenditures as an independent variable. Except for public debt, all other variables have a value that will affect net exports. Unlike other studies, employment as an independent variable has the value of influencing GDP, total capital, consumption, government expenditures, and net exports as dependent variables. It has been observed that consumption, investment, and government expenditure coefficients have values that will affect GDP. Insufficient control of government practices, the North Cyprus government's inefficient plans to encourage domestic production, insufficient enforcement power of domestic producers, as well as increased capital outflows, increased government debt, and budget deficit are not sustainable models.