Vatansever, Mehmet; Çakır, Osman Kağan

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment on blood pressure (BP) control in resistant hypertensive patients with anxiety symptoms. Methods: This interventional study was conducted between January 2021 and March 2022 at a family medicine outpatient clinic. Patients with primary hypertension (HT), uncontrolled with monotherapy, and scoring ≥16 on the Beck anxiety inventory were included. All were switched to combination antihypertensive therapy. Those who accepted SSRI treatment constituted the case group, while those who declined formed the control group. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. BP was measured at baseline and after 1 month. Results: Ninety-one patients were included, 30 (33.0%) male, the median age was 53.5 (35.0–68.0) years. Of the participants, 72 (79.1%) received combined therapy plus SSRI, while 19 (20.9%) received combined therapy only. After 1 month, systolic BP decreased by 15.0 (1.0–22.0) mmHg and diastolic BP by 13.0 (4.0–18.0) mmHg in the case group, compared to decreases of 8.0 (1.0–17.0) mmHg and 6.0 (2.0–13.0) mmHg in the control group (respectively, p<0.001 and p<0.001). Conclusion: SSRI therapy provided significantly greater reductions in both systolic and diastolic BP compared with combination antihypertensive treatment alone. Anxiety should be considered an important factor in resistant HT, and psychological as well as pharmacological interventions may enhance treatment outcomes.

Ölmez, İbrahim Halil; Gürsoy, Ersan

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether there is a relationship between smoking status, sleep quality, and self-efficacy perception. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults who visited the family medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital between May and July 2023. A 20-item questionnaire prepared by the researchers, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale were used. Results: In the study, 440 participants were included. The median PSQI, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and FTND scores were 12.0 (6.0–21.0), 64.5 (42.0–85.0), and 3.0 (0.0–10.0), respectively. Smokers had significantly higher PSQI scores compared to non-smokers and former smokers (12.0 [6.0–21.0] vs. 11.0 [6.0–18.0] vs. 11.0 [8.0–17.0], respectively, p<0.001). However, Self-efficacy scores did not differ significantly among the groups (p=0.431). While a significant positive correlation was found between FTND scores and PSQI scores, no significant correlation was found between self-efficacy (r=0.140, p=0.036, and p=0.689, respectively). Conclusion: There was a significant association was observed between smoking and poorer sleep quality. However, no significant relationship was found between smoking status and self-efficacy perception.

Akturan, Selcuk; Yilmaz, Canan Tuz; Ciltas, Nadire Yildiz; Kumlu, Gokhan

Objectives: This study aims to measure the perceived stress level of family caregivers of patients in palliative care units, and to reveal the socio-cultural and health-related characteristics that might affect their perceived stress. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of family members who had taken care of their patients who were hospitalized in palliative care units between March 1, 2018, and June 1, 2018. A sociodemographic questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) was applied face-to-face to all participants. Moreover, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) was applied to all participants. Results: Seventy-five family caregivers attended to the study. Twenty-two (34.7%) of family caregivers were patients' children. Fifty-seven (75.0%) of family caregivers struggled with problems during care processes. Fifteen (19.5%) participants gave positive responses to both questions of the PHQ-2. The number of family caregivers who had chronic diseases was 49 (64.5%). The mean score of PSS-14 was 46.9 }5.7. Conclusion: Difficulties in the management of care processes may have increased perceived stress levels and may adversely affect the caregivers' health and social life. Providing early psychological support to family caregivers by health professionals may help to reduce perceived stress.