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- MakaleAçık Erişim2025Measuring Dysfunctional Grief due to a COVID-19 Loss: A Kurdish Validation Study of the Pandemic Grief Scale
Karimi, Kambiz; Yaghoobi, Abolghasem; Gungor, Sunay; Karimi, Afagh; Sohrabi, Saeed
Millions of people are grieving the loss of someone who died of COVID-19. The current study aims to validate a Kurdish version of the Pandemic Grief Scale which is a brief English-language mental health screener to identify cases of dysfunctional grief associated with a COVID-19 death. We recruited 501 participants. Participants completed the PGS, WSAS, PHQ-9, and Optimism scales. The factor structure, reliability, and validity of the PGS were analyzed. Using exploratory factor analysis (N1 = 300), we derived an one-factor structure. In confirmatory factor analysis (N2 = 201), the one-factor model showed good to excellent fitness. The PGS was positively correlated with PHQ-4, and WSAS and negatively correlated with optimism. The scale was internally consistent with a Cronbach's alpha of .79. These results support that the Kurdish version of the PGS is a valid and reliable assessment to assess the severity of dysfunctional grief associated with a COVID-19 death.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2023Identification of the drivers of and barriers to COVID-19 vaccine intake behavior using a mixed-method design: implications from a developing country
Kordestani, Arash; Oghazi, Pejvak; Izmir, Onur; Oypan, Oguz; Ozer, Serhat
Various COVID-19 vaccines are available across the world. However, short phases of clinical trials for emergency use and myriad rumors about and misinformation on vaccines spread through different media sources, induce confusion and trigger vaccine hesitancy behavior. Although clinical trials demonstrated promising results in the ability of vaccines to protect, social endeavor is required for vaccines to succeed. Mitigation of the pandemic is only possible through widespread acceptance of the vaccine. Thus, identifying the factors that impact vaccine intake is crucial. This study determined factors that affect intentions toward vaccination using a mixed-method approach, in which qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted together. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used in the quantitative study, and content analysis is employed in the qualitative study. The final sample of this mixed-method study consists of 568 participants for the quantitative study and 237 for the qualitative study. They were selected using an online questionnaire. Findings suggest that social, psychological, attitudinal, perceptual, and informational factors play a crucial role in shaping people's intentions toward vaccines, ultimately influencing their decision to accept or reject vaccination. Results of both the qualitative and quantitative studies, in parallel with each other, indicated similar barriers against and drivers toward vaccine intake behavior, providing strong insights into the reasons behind vaccine acceptance and hesitancy. Based on the insights gained in this study, a set of recommendations were compiled for policymakers.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2021Effect of precautionary and normalization steps on course of COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
Bostan, Sedat; Agac, Gokhan; Sahinöz, Saime
Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic began in China and has now spread across the whole world, and many countries such as Turkey are still fighting against this pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of precautionary and normalization steps taken by the Turkish government on the number of confirmed cases, current cases, and deaths due to the COVID-19 in Turkey. Materials and Methods: The study used exponential regression models to estimate the number of confirmed cases, deaths, and current cases. The study data were collected from the Turkish Ministry of Health, Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the national public broadcaster of Turkey. Results: The precautions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused the exponentially increasing number of cases to be brought under control and to decrease exponentially. The normalization steps taken paused the exponential decrease in the number of cases and caused the number of cases to remain flat during the summer months and then rise again. If the normalization steps were not implemented and the precautions taken continued in the same way, it was calculated that the numbers of COVID-19 current cases would be reset on June 26, 2020. The total number of deaths would remain at 4423 and the total number of confirmed cases would be 150586. Discussion: As a result, the impact of precautionary and normalization steps on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic was examined. It has been observed that the impact of these steps on the pandemic is exponential. The results provide guidelines for health authorities and administrators to take necessary precautions.