Background: Commercial sources of information are known to have greater influence than scientific sources on general practitioners' (GPs) prescribing behavior in under developed and developing countries. The study aimed to determine the self-reported impact of pharmaceutical promotion on the decision-making process of prescription of GPs in Eastern Turkey.

The use of energy drinks is common among adolescents and young age groups. The purpose of this study was to determine energy drink consumption status in students at the Karadeniz Technical University in Turkey and the factors affecting this. The research was performed at the Karadeniz Technical University among a total of 2001 students attending the Administration Department, the Physical Education Department, the Psychological Counseling and Guidance Department and the Faculty of Medicine. The research data were collected using the supervised questionnaire method. The 53.5 % (n = 1070) of students had never tried energy drinks, 22.5 % (n = 450) had tried them once only, 1.5 % (n = 30) had used them for a time and then gave up, 21.1 % (n = 422) consumed occasionally and 1.4 % (n = 29) regularly. The risks of regular energy drink consuming were male gender [2.4 (1.8-3.2)] [OR (95 %CI)], studying at night [1.6 (1.2-2.2)], having friends consuming energy drinks [3.6 (2.6-5.0)], regular physical activity [1.9 (1.4-2.5)], being an alcohol drinker [2.4 (1.7-3.2)]. This study revealed that almost half of university students had experience of energy drinks and that approximately one-fourth still used them. It will be useful for these factors listed above to be borne in mind in the development of policies aimed at protecting young people from the health impacts of energy drinks.

Ice skating is a community-based sport and a popular leisure activity that can also have benefits for people with disabilities. Ice skating and children with hearing impairment: Self-concept, behavioural and emotional problems, and sleep quality of the children with hearing impairment significantly improved after ice skating. Ice skating programmes may be considered as a rehabilitation alternative for children with hearing impairment. Ice skating and children with visual impairment: Caution must be use when including children with visual impairment in ice skating programmes because of possible negative psychological outcomes. Balance exercises before starting the practices on ice should be considered for preventing some possible negative outcomes in children with visual impairment.

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Interactions between drug companies and medical students may affect evidence-based medical practice and patient safety. The aim of this study was to assess drug company–medical student interactions in a medical faculty where limited specific national or institutional regulations apply between drug companies and medical students. The objectives of the study were to determine the exposure and attitudes of final year medical students in terms of drug company–medical student and physician interactions, to identify factors affecting those attitudes and to provide data for policymakers working on the regulation of interactions between drug companies and medical students. This anonymous questionnaire-based study of 154 medical final year medical students at the Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty, Trabzon, Turkey, in April and May 2015 attracted a response rate of 92.2% (n/N, 154/164). Exposure to interaction with a pharmaceutical representative was reported by 90.3% (139/154) of students, and 68.8% (106/154) reported experiencing such interaction alongside a resident. In addition, 83.7% (128/153) of students reported an interaction during internship. Furthermore, 69.9% (107/153) of students agreed that interactions influence physicians’ prescription preferences, while 33.1% (51/154) thought that a medical student should never accept a gift from a drug company and 24.7% (38/154) agreed with the proposition that “drug companies should not hold activities in medical faculties”. Students with rational prescription training expressed greater agreement with the statement “I am skeptical concerning the information provided by drug companies during interactions” than those who had not received such training, and this finding was supported by logistic regression [O.R.(C.I), p -3.7(1.2–11.5), p = 0.022]. Acceptance of advertisement brochures was found to significantly reduce the level of agreement with the proposition that “A physician should not accept any gift from a drug company.” (0.3[0.1–0.9], p = 0.030). In summary, exposure to drug companies was widespread among our final year medical students who, like students in both Western and non-Western societies, hold permissive attitudes concerning accepting gifts, and drug advertising brochures may relax those permissive attitudes still further. Rational prescription training was useful in generating rational attitudes. Policies concerning drug company–medical student relationships should be developed in Turkey as well as internationally.