The study was conducted to assess the psychological resilience and stress symptoms in health care workers following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake.

The study was completed with a sample size of 313 health care workers who experienced the earthquake and was carried out in a descriptive and correlational design. The Sociodemographic Data Form, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale (BPRS), and Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale-5 (TSSS-5) were used.

The study found that 39.6% of health care workers were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, 41.2% of participants considered leaving their jobs after the earthquake, and 79.9% reported a decrease in job motivation (slight or a lot). It was determined that there was a negative correlation between the participants’ BPRS scores and TSSS-5 scores (r:-0.523, P = 0.00).

In accordance with the findings of our study, it can be posited that traumatic stress symptoms diminished as the level of psychological resilience increased in health care workers who experienced the earthquake.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the perceived trauma levels of women at reproductive age after earthquakes on their menstruation cycle.

This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between March 17, 2023, and April 17, 2023, after the earthquakes that happened in Turkey on February 6, 2023 and affected 11 cities. The study was conducted with 355 women. Data were collected using an online questionnaire form prepared via Google Forms. Data collection was performed using a Participant Information Form and the Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determination Scale.

According to the multiple regression analysis results, the significant predictors of perceived trauma levels after the earthquakes included the severity of dysmenorrhea (β-coefficient = 0.164, P = .007), characteristics of vaginal discharge (β-coefficient = 0.136, P = .027), and itching in the perineum (β-coefficient = −0.220, P = .001). These variables explained 12.4% of the total variance in the perceived trauma levels of the participants.

The perceived trauma levels of women after the earthquakes had significant effects on the severity of dysmenorrhea, characteristics of vaginal discharge, and itching in the perineum. Health professionals should not overlook the effects of women’s perceived trauma levels on their menstruation cycles after earthquakes and evaluate the issue considering these aspects.

The present study was conducted to determine self-management and influencing factors in dialysis patients who experienced the earthquake.

The study was conducted descriptively with 125 patients receiving dialysis in a city affected by the earthquake in Türkiye. Data were collected with the “Personal Information Form” and the “Chronic Illness Self-Management Scale” (CISMS). Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann Whitney U, Kruskall Wallis, Spearman Correlation tests, Wilcoxon, and Linear Regression were used in the statistical analysis.

The study found that 9.6% of the patients were trapped under the rubble in the earthquake, 71.2% lost a relative, 43.8% changed dialysis centers, 36.8% missed dialysis sessions, and 51.2% could not comply with the diet after the earthquake. Women (p < 0.001), those with secondary school or lower educational levels (p < 0.05), those with another chronic disease, and those who lost a relative in the earthquake had lower health care maintenance efficacy (p < 0.05). The treatment adherence of those who adhered to the diet was higher than those who did not (p < 0.05).

It was determined that the level of self-stigma of the patients after the earthquake was low, their treatment adherence was high, and there were many variables affecting their self-management.

On February 6, 2023, 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye, affecting 11 provinces and causing significant losses. This study aims to assess the mental health status of survivors in the twelfth month after the earthquake.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey with the virtual snowball sampling method. The survey included sociodemographic data, previous traumas, earthquake-related experiences, and the Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determining Scale (PETLDS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

The study included 2544 participants. The mean PETLDS score was 58.14±18.18, indicating that the participants were highly traumatized. Among them, 59.5% had high levels of post-traumatic symptoms, 44.2% had high anxiety, and 61% had high depression symptoms. 35.77% of participants displayed a co-occurrence of post-traumatic stress along with anxiety and depression. Female gender was the strongest predictor of high-level trauma and anxiety, while a history of psychiatric disorder was the strongest predictor of depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that symptoms were predicted by low income, low education level, smoking, comorbid chronic diseases, past traumatic experiences, the loss or injury of a loved one due to the earthquake, personal injury, temporary displacement, and damage to homes and workplaces.

The findings suggest that one year after the earthquake, mental health problems are prevalent among survivors, highlighting the need for urgent psychiatric interventions.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-earthquake and earthquake-related characteristics and post-earthquake trauma levels of individuals affected by the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes.

The study is in survey design, one of the quantitative research methods. The participants consist of individuals affected by the earthquake and staying in temporary accommodation centers (student dormitories) in Konya province. A survey including a personal information form and a scale for determining the Post-Earthquake Trauma Levels was administered face to face to 334 volunteer participants.

Adults aged 30-46, those trapped under debris, those injured in the earthquake, those who lost a family member, a relative, a neighbour or a friend, and those who received psychological support after the earthquake are in the risk group in terms of high post-earthquake trauma levels.

The findings reveal the groups in which the traumatic effects of earthquakes on adults are high. It is important to prepare intervention programs by considering the needs of these groups in psychosocial interventions to be carried out after the earthquake.

We aimed to reveal the psychological effects of old and young individuals after the earthquake by looking at their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression situations.

Data collected by face-to-face survey method were analyzed. The 4 provinces (Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, and Gaziantep) most affected by the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey on February 6, 2023 were included in the study. Peritraumatic distress inventory, impact of events scale, and Beck depression inventory were applied to 300 people (150 old, 150 young).

The presence of peritraumatic stress was observed in 94% (282 people), PTSD symptoms in 90% (270 people) and moderate to severe depression in 36.7% (110 people). When younger were compared with those elders, it was concluded that there was no significant difference in terms of presence of peritraumatic distress (49.6% vs. 50.4%, P=0.627), PTSD (49.6% vs. 50.4%, P=0.620) and moderate to severe depression (45.5% vs. 54.5%, P=0.258).

We found similar rates of PTSD and depression symptoms in older and younger adults exposed to earthquakes. Policies need to be developed to ensure psychological well-being after an earthquake disaster in the adult population regardless of age group.

A minority of earthquake-exposed individuals develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often alongside comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms. No systematic review has examined psychological interventions for adults with substantial earthquake-related PTSD symptoms.

To synthesise studies evaluating psychological interventions for adult earthquake-related PTSD and conduct meta-analyses estimating overall effect sizes.

The review was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023441020). PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Scopus were searched for studies (last search conducted July 2024). Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised and non-controlled studies evaluating psychological interventions for adults with substantial earthquake-related PTSD symptoms were eligible. Outcomes were PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms. Narrative syntheses and meta-analyses summarised study findings. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool guided quality assessments.

Sixteen studies were identified (eight RCTs, four non-randomised and four non-controlled studies), representing 1315 participants receiving psychological intervention. Interventions included cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), specific CBT variants, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, interpersonal psychotherapy and an internet-based intervention focusing on social cognitive theory. Studies generally reported statistically and clinically significant improvements associated with psychological interventions. Among studies included in meta-analyses, overall effect size was 2.11 (95% CI = 0.92, 3.31) for PTSD symptoms and 1.01 (95% CI = 0.50, 1.52) for depression symptoms.

Psychological interventions are associated with good outcomes among adults with earthquake-related PTSD. The most evidence currently exists for CBT-based interventions, which are recommended as first-line treatments. Efficient intervention options, including single-session and group-based treatments, also show promise and are recommended for addressing widespread treatment need.

The February 6, 2023 Türkiye earthquake caused widespread destruction and significantly affected public health priorities. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the disaster on public interest in dermatological issues, using Google Trends.

Two dermatologists selected 10 dermatological topics based on textbooks and Google Trends data availability. Search trends in Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Adıyaman were analyzed for 52 weeks before and after the earthquake. Topics with a significant interest change due to the earthquake in at least 2 of 3 provinces ("dermatology" and “scabies”) were analyzed across all 11 affected provinces.

Search interest in “dermatology” significantly decreased in Hatay (-27.5%, P = 4.16×10-4), Kahramanmaraş (-25%, P = 0.009), and Malatya (-56.9%, P = 0.0005). Other conditions, including “acne,” “eczema,” “psoriasis,” “urticaria,” and “wart” exhibited varying trends, but none of these changes reached statistical significance. Searches for “scabies” showed a substantial and statistically significant increase in Hatay (+69%, P = 4.11×10-10), Kahramanmaraş (+112%, P = 6.96×10-8), Adıyaman (+144%, P = 0.0179), Gaziantep (+54.3%, P = 2.56×10-9), Malatya (+91.8%, P = 0.00074), Diyarbakır (+50.5%, P = 2.43×10-8), Adana (+20.7%, P = 4.99×10-5), Şanlıurfa (+50.5%, P = 8.96×10-8), Elazığ (+421%, P = 5.25×10-4), and Osmaniye (+78.4%, P = 1.25×10-4). Hatay, previously ranked 9th, became the top province post-earthquake, with most others, except Adana and Elazığ, also rising in rank.

The earthquake significantly impacted public interest in dermatology, especially scabies. Google Trends can help identify health concerns, guiding resource allocation and targeted interventions post-disaster.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of relaxation-based exercises on individuals experiencing post-earthquake stress-related symptoms in an earthquake-prone region.

This randomized, waitlist-controlled, parallel group study included 46 participants with moderate post-traumatic stress levels (Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, PDS) and anxiety for over 1 month (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI score > 8). Participants were randomly assigned to a relaxation-based exercise group (REG, n = 24) or a waitlist control group (CG, n = 25). The REG received relaxation-based structured, supervised exercises for 4 weeks, while the CG awaited treatment. Assessments included the PDS, BAI, Beck Depression Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and SF-12 Quality of Life Scale at baseline and 4 weeks post-intervention.

Within-group analysis showed significant improvements in anxiety (P = 0.001), depression (P = 0.001), perceived stress (P = 0.001), and sleep quality (P = 0.001) for the REG. The CG showed decreased depression symptoms (P = 0.011) and improved sleep quality (P = 0.012). There were no significant group differences in quality-of-life outcomes (P > 0.05), though REG showed greater improvement in depression and perceived stress scores (P < 0.05).

Relaxation-based exercises can improve sleep quality in individuals experiencing post-earthquake stress, and reduce depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. This approach can be used as a novel rehabilitation model in preventive mental health for the community.

This study examines how post-disaster meal provisions evolve with shelter size and over time to better support evacuees’ dietary needs.

Analysis was conducted on 96 dietary assessment sheets from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, categorized by 3 shelter scales and time elapsed since the disaster. Differences in meal types and dish categories were compared using the Z test. Focus was placed on meal provision details and dietary considerations for vulnerable evacuees.

In the early stages, some shelters provided meals only twice daily. However, over time, boxed meals became more common, while the proportion of hot meal services decreased. Ready-to-eat foods-based meals predominantly consisted of “grain-based dishes” across all weeks and shelter sizes. Larger shelters tended to have fewer dietary considerations for vulnerable evacuees.

Continuous hot meal services may not be sustainable, suggesting a shift toward well-balanced boxed meals from vendors. Larger shelters faced challenges with unhealthy dietary behaviors and inadequate nutritional support for vulnerable evacuees. The findings can help municipalities develop concrete disaster nutrition plans considering disaster phase and shelter size.

This study aims to determine the factors associated with pregnant women’s perceived stress and coping styles after the devastating earthquake in Turkey.

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 419 pregnant women between March 15 and May 15, 2023. Data were collected through the “Personal Information Form,” the “Perceived Stress Scale,” and the “Coping with Earthquake Stress Scale.”

In this study, while the variables of employment status (P = 0.045) and number of pregnancies (P = 0.004) affected perceived stress, the variables of age (P = 0.049), income status (P = 0.003), place of residence (P = 0.036), and employment status (P = 0.001) were found to affect coping skills with earthquake stress. The Religious Coping sub-scale was a predictive factor on perceived stress (P = 0.002). In addition, a negative and linear relationship was found between the mean total score of the Perceived Stress Scale, the “Religious Coping” (P = 0.006, r = -0.134), “Positive Reappraisal” (P = 0.031, r = -0.106), and the total score of Coping with Earthquake Stress Scale (P = 0.005, r = -0.135).

This study found that there were some factors affecting the perceived stress and coping strategies of women after the earthquake, and the pregnant women used coping skills more as their perceived stress decreased; especially, they used religious coping and positive reappraisal strategies more.

Tissue injuries that occur after earthquakes are usually traumatic and cause various anatomical damages. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is an increasingly popular treatment modality for such tissue injuries because it has the potential to accelerate the healing process of tissues by providing effective oxygen.

This study aimed to present a retrospective evaluation of the effects and outcomes of HBOT in patients with tissue damage after earthquakes, thus contributing to the development of medical intervention strategies following natural disasters.

This study included 51 patients treated as earthquake victims in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Unit. Information regarding the earthquake victims was obtained retrospectively and relevant analyses were conducted. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between the Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) and related variables.

Sensory and functional recovery rates were 64.7% and 62.7%, respectively, after HBOT. After treatment, 10 (19.6%) patients had a minor amputation, and 5 (9.8%) patients had a major amputation. As patients’ MESS Scores increased, the rate of amputation did not increase (P < 0.05), but the rate of recovery of sensation and function in the recovered extremities decreased (P < 0.05). No patient died during treatment.

These results suggest that HBOT can protect life and limb in earthquake injuries, but also save numb and non-functioning limbs in severe cases.

Health workers are one of the work groups that have the biggest role in overcoming the crises that occur with disasters. It is very critical for health care workers to be healthy, happy and productive both for overcoming crises with minimal damage and for a healthy society. This study aimed to examine the anxiety levels of health care workers after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake and to evaluate the effect of earthquake anxiety on the level of perceived stress and work-family conflict.

It is a cross-sectional study. The sample of this study, which was conducted approximately 9 months after the earthquake, consisted of 150 health care workers working in a private hospital in Gaziantep.

It was observed that the post-earthquake anxiety levels of health care workers were above average. It has been found that earthquake anxiety significantly affects both perceived stress and the level of work-family conflict. Additionally, it was determined that the explanatory nature of the model increased by 4.5% with the inclusion of perceived stress and educational level on the effect of earthquake anxiety on work-family conflict.

More research is needed to evaluate the mental state of health care workers after the earthquake, to ensure positive development and to put forward appropriate strategies.

This study aims to determine the effect of death anxiety on the life satisfaction of individuals living in 11 provinces declared as earthquake zones in Turkey.

This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 435 participants in earthquake zones in Turkey. Data were collected online through Google Forms using a sociodemographic form, the Revised Death Anxiety Scale (RDAS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

In this study, it was determined that 48.5% of the participants exhibited moderate levels of death anxiety. The participants’ average score on the RDAS was 53.97 (SD = 16.21), and their mean score on the SWLS was 12.30 (SD = 4.33).

This study showed that death anxiety adversely affects life satisfaction. Higher death anxiety among participants was associated with lower satisfaction with life. Consequently, health care professionals should offer increased psychological and communication support to individuals who have experienced significant disasters like earthquakes.

Earthquakes deeply affect people’s lives and cause significant psychological damage. This study was conducted to determine the trauma level of midwifery students after the devastating earthquake in Turkey.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 252 students enrolled in the midwifery department of the Faculty of Health Sciences of a state university in Turkey. Data were collected using the participant information form and the Scale for Determining the Level of Post-Earthquake Trauma. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data analysis.

This study found that post-earthquake, students had trauma levels and sub-dimension scores related to behavioral problems, excitement limitation, affective and cognitive structuring, and sleep problems that were above average. The research revealed that students who were present in one of the earthquake-affected provinces, experienced house destruction, suffered the loss of relatives, had previous traumatic events, or received disaster management training had significantly higher levels of trauma.

In this direction, it is of utmost importance for university students in midwifery departments to be prepared for natural disasters like earthquakes. This preparedness will enable them to effectively cope with the physical and psychological issues caused by such disasters, benefiting both their own health and public health.