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OBJECTIVE: In our study, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malatya province, other than confirmed case deaths, were investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of those who died between 2016 and 2020 were reviewed on the official website of the Malatya Metropolitan Municipality, and the numbers of deaths in those 5 years were recorded on a weekly basis. The arithmetic mean of the deaths between 2016 and 2019 was calculated, and it was investigated whether the number of deaths in 2020 was more than expected. RESULTS: In 2020, 1743 (61%) excess deaths were detected. While the mean number of deaths reported 4 years before 2020 was 2860, it was determined that the number of deaths in 2020 was 4603, and there were 1743 (61%) excess deaths. CONCLUSION: The deaths occurred in Malatya during the COVID-19 pandemic were more than expected. It has been supposed that some deaths were of polymerase chain reaction negative and hence unrecorded COVID-19 patients' deaths, and some deaths were caused by other indirect effects of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses efforts in Turkey to reduce tobacco use and the tactics and strategies that directly target tobacco industry. Topics discussed include the aim of tobacco control to control the ambition of the tobacco industry to make money, the need to increase the price of cigarettes in Turkey to the levels in Australia, Norway and Great Britain and the need for the health system in Turkey to conform with addiction treatment and integrated into primary health care services.

The goal of smoking cessation treatment is to keep the patient completely away from tobacco and tobacco products. The aim of harm reduction strategies in tobacco control is to reduce the risks associated with tobacco use. In order to turn it into an opportunity, tobacco companies have developed smokeless tobacco products. Some epidemiological studies have reported that smokeless tobacco products are safer than tobacco smoke. However, this method is not completely harmless. In this review, we will discuss all aspects of tobacco harm reduction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current success of the implementation of the tobacco act is closely related to the perspective, knowledge and level of awareness of enforcing agencies. The aim our study was to identify the levels of awareness and responsibility regarding the tobacco law of employees of public institution members of Malatya Provincial Tobacco Control Committee (PTCC). Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was carried out with 305 employees of public institution members of PTCC. In the questionnaire, the demographic data, smoking characteristics, attitudes to smoking after changing the law and their opinions about the functioning of the law were obtained and they were asked how they had learnt about the law and their thoughts on individual and corporate responsibility. Results: The mean age was 35.9±8.9 years. 73.1% males, 92.1% high school and 58.4% were university. smokers. The rate of smoking in the Tuberculosis Dispensary was higher than in other institutions (75%). The greatest decrease in the smoking rate after the law was seen in Police Department (51%). 77% of the cases were informed through the media about the law, while 6% of them learned through the authority of the institution, 81.3% of the cases supported the law. 30% know that cigarettes can be smoked at their institution and 22.3% continue the cigarette selling despite banning. A quarter of employees do not feel responsibility regarding the law. Conclusion: In public institution members of PTCC, the law is not sufficiently functional. The levels of awareness and responsibility regarding the tobacco law of employees of public institution members of NTCC were insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Both active and passive smoking increase the risk of developing asthma and respiratory symptoms and decrease pulmonary functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of active and passive smoking exposure on asthma severity and exacerbations in patients treated and followed-up regularly by the same physician in a specialized asthma outpatient clinic. Material and Method: We used a questionnaire to assess the history, medications, severity and exacerbations of asthma, besides active and passive smoking exposure in 131 patients attending our asthma outpatient clinic and urinary cotinine levels were measured. Results: Mean age of the patients was 52.0±11.7 [93 females (71%)]. Thirty nine patients (30%) reported passive smoking exposure, whereas seven (5%) patients were current smokers. Urinary cotinine levels were high (>500 ng/ml) in only two patients with passive smoking exposure. The average number of asthma exacerbations was 1.5/year in patients exposed to passive smoking and 1/year in patients without exposure (p>0.05). The number of patients with intermittent (32% vs. 24%) and mild persistent (53% vs. 46%) asthma were higher in passive smoking patients whereas there were more patients without smoking exposure in the moderate persistent (13% vs. 22%) and severe persistent (3% vs. 8%) groups. Conclusion: We concluded that the percentage of current smokers was lower than the general population among asthma patients. This can emphasize the importance of educational therapy in the specific asthma outpatient clinic. On the other hand, we should improve the consciousness of the general public about asthma as one third of the patients were passive smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]