BackgroundConsidering the fact that, due to recent evidence, many women no longer prefer hormone replacement therapy, it is especially important to develop intervention options to alleviate menopausal symptoms. Although there is conflicting evidence concerning effectiveness, there is an indication that physical activity and weight control may be useful for alleviating symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity and body mass index on menopausal symptoms among menopausal women in Turkey.Methods305 women between the ages of 45 and 60 who visited the health center for various reasons were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Menopausal women, who visited one of five family physicians working in the same area, were included in the analyses. The Menopause Rating Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a generic medical and socio-demographic information questionnaire were used.ResultsWomen who were physically active had lower total menopausal (p < 0.001), somato-vegetative (p = 0.004), psychological (p = 0.002), and urogenital (p < 0.001) symptom scores than women who were less active. No differences in vasomotor symptoms were recorded related to physical activity level; significant differences were found for most menopausal symptoms, including sleep (p = 0.009) and sexual (p = 0.043) problems, joint and muscular discomfort (p < 0.001) and vaginal dryness (p = 0.016). BMI was not associated with total menopausal symptoms and with the subscales, excluding depressive mood (p = 0.009). A significant increasing trend in the rate of depressive mood was observed from normal through overweight to obese participants. The mean scores of the total menopausal symptoms were lower among the participants who were well educated, currently working and without chronic diseases.ConclusionsPhysical activity may play an important role in alleviating menopausal symptoms. As part of preventive medicine, primary care physicians should also stress lifestyle changes, including physical activity, to manage menopausal symptoms.

BackgroundAs the risks and benefits of early detection and primary prevention strategies for breast cancer are beginning to be quantified, the risk perception of women has become increasingly important as may affect their screening behaviors. This study evaluated the women’s breast cancer risk perception and their accuracy, and determined the factors that can affect their risk perception accuracy.MethodsData was collected in a cross-sectional survey design. Questionnaire, including breast cancer risk factors, risk perceptions and screening behaviors, answered by 624 women visiting primary health care center (PHCC). “Perceived risk” investigated with numeric and verbal measures. Accuracy of risk perception was determined by women’s Gail 5-year risk scores.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 59.62 ± 1.97 years. Of the women 6.7% had a first-degree relative with breast cancer, 68.9% performed breast self-examination and 62.3% had a mammography, and 82.9% expressed their breast cancer worry as “low”. The numeric measure correlated better with worry and Gail scores. Of the women 65.5% perceived their breast cancer risk accurately. Among the women in “high risk” group 65.7% underestimated, while in “average risk” group 25.4% overestimated their risk.ConclusionsTurkish women visiting PHCC are overtly and overly optimistic. This was especially obvious with the result that nearly one third had had no mammography. There is a need for further studies to understand why and how this optimism is maintained so that better screening strategies can be applied at PHCC. All health workers working at PHCC have to be aware of this optimism to prevent missed opportunities for cancer screening.

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Amaç: Çalışmada, Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesinde ihtisas yapan asistan hekimlerin uzmanlık tercihleriyle ilgili memnuniyetlerinin, yaşam ve eğitim koşullarının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışmada; demografik bilgiler ile Minnesota İş Doyum Ölçeği'nden oluşan 51 soruluk anket yüz yüze görüşme yöntemiyle çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 252 asistan hekime uygulanmıştır.Bulgular: Katılımcıların %92,1'i çalışmakta oldukları bölüme isteyerek başlamıştı. Uzmanlık eğitimi tercihinde sırasıyla uzmanlaşma isteği (%52,0), mesleki ideali olması (%51,2), uzmanlık dalının geleceğinin parlak olması (%50,4) dikkate alınmıştı. Maddi getiri %25,8'inin tercihini etkilemekle birlikte %72,2'si elde edilen geliri yetersiz buluyordu. İş doyumu puan ortalaması 3,39±0,59 bulundu. İsteyerek gelenlerde, nöbet sayısı az olanlarda, bölümdeki eğitim hedefinin öncelikli olduğunu, hekimlik dışı işlerde kullanılmadığını düşünenlerde, çalışma ortamının fiziki şartlarını ve maaşını yeterli bulanlarda, eğitimi genel olarak yeterli görenlerde, anlamlı olarak iş doyumu puanları yüksekti (p<0,05). Sonuç: Asistan hekimlerin memnuniyetlerini etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek iş doyumunu arttırarak daha iyi bir çalışma ortamı oluşturulmasına olanak sağlar.