Research Article

Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Volume: 13 Number: S1 August 30, 2021
TR EN

Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: Strengthening the immune system constitutes an important part of struggling with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the approaches of the teachers to strengthen their immunity during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Method: This descriptive study was conducted by applying a questionnaire to teachers using social media between 15 June - 15 July 2020. Results: The median age of all 500 participants was 37 (min: 22, max: 69) years and 76.8% were women. Of the teachers 47.4% stated that they gained weight during COVID-19 pandemic period. Fruit and vegetable consuming (52.8%), praying (36.2%) and sunbathing (26.0%) were the most common methods to strengthen immunity. Of the teachers, 45.2% (n:226) were using supplementary products. The most commonly used supplements are; Vitamin D (17%), vitamin C (14.2%) and multi-vitamin (10.8%). While there was no statistically significant difference between supplementary product usage and income levels (p = 0.839), there was a significant difference with allotting of money for their health (p = 0.001). Of the teachers, 46.2% were confident about their knowledge on immunity strengthening methods and 61.2% stated that they would like to be trained. Conclusion: Teachers appear to care about their health and apply immunity strengthening methods, though nearly half gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-service training is essential for the teachers who would constitute good role-models for the society. Lifestyle changes and complementary therapies strengthening immunity may help to come over Covid-19 pandemic with less harm. More studies are needed to investigate the effects of complementary therapies on the immune system.

Keywords

References

  1. Kutlu R. What we have learned about the new coronavirus pandemic, current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and the situation in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 2020;14(2):329-344. doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.729917.
  2. Durduran Y, Kucukkartallar T, Kandemir B, Cihan FG. Experiences of a university hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Konuralp Medical Journal 2020;12(2):344-346. doi:10.18521/ktd.737619
  3. Parkin J, Cohen B. An overview of the immune system. Lancet 2001;357(9270):1777-1789. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04904-7
  4. Muscogiuri G, Barrea L, Savastano S, Colao A. Nutritional recommendations for COVID-19 quarantine." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2020;74(6):850-851. doi:10.1038/s41430-020-0635-2.
  5. Calder PC, Carr AC, Gombart AF, Eggersdorfer M. Optimal nutritional status for a well-functioning immune system is an important factor to protect against viral infections Nutrients 2020;12(4):1181. doi:10.3390/nu12041181.
  6. Luzi L, Radaelli MG. Influenza and obesity: its odd relationship and the lessons for COVID-19 pandemic. ActaDiabetol 2020;57(6):759-764. doi:10.1007/s00592-020-01522-8.
  7. Lunde P, Nilsson BB, Bergland A, Kværner KJ, Bye A. The effectiveness of smart phone apps for lifestyle improvement in noncommunicable diseases: systematic review and meta-analyses. J Med Internet Res 2018;20(5):e162. doi:10.2196/jmir.9751.
  8. Zabetakis I, Lordan R, Norton C, Tsoupras A. COVID-19: The inflammation link and the role of nutrition in potential mitigation. Nutrients 2020;12(5):1466. doi:10.3390/nu12051466.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 30, 2021

Submission Date

April 21, 2021

Acceptance Date

July 4, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 13 Number: S1

APA
Küçükceran, H., Cihan, F. G., & Daye, M. (2021). Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Konuralp Medical Journal, 13(S1), 395-400. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.924043
AMA
1.Küçükceran H, Cihan FG, Daye M. Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2021;13(S1):395-400. doi:10.18521/ktd.924043
Chicago
Küçükceran, Hatice, Fatma Gökşin Cihan, and Munise Daye. 2021. “Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening Their Immune Systems During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Konuralp Medical Journal 13 (S1): 395-400. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.924043.
EndNote
Küçükceran H, Cihan FG, Daye M (August 1, 2021) Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Konuralp Medical Journal 13 S1 395–400.
IEEE
[1]H. Küçükceran, F. G. Cihan, and M. Daye, “Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic”, Konuralp Medical Journal, vol. 13, no. S1, pp. 395–400, Aug. 2021, doi: 10.18521/ktd.924043.
ISNAD
Küçükceran, Hatice - Cihan, Fatma Gökşin - Daye, Munise. “Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening Their Immune Systems During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Konuralp Medical Journal 13/S1 (August 1, 2021): 395-400. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.924043.
JAMA
1.Küçükceran H, Cihan FG, Daye M. Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2021;13:395–400.
MLA
Küçükceran, Hatice, et al. “Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening Their Immune Systems During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Konuralp Medical Journal, vol. 13, no. S1, Aug. 2021, pp. 395-00, doi:10.18521/ktd.924043.
Vancouver
1.Hatice Küçükceran, Fatma Gökşin Cihan, Munise Daye. Teachers’ Approaches to Strengthening their Immune Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2021 Aug. 1;13(S1):395-400. doi:10.18521/ktd.924043

https://mjl.clarivate.com://search-results?issn=1309-3878&hide_exact_match_fl=true&utm_source=mjl&utm_medium=share-by-link&utm_campaign=search-results-share-this-journal

 

EBSCO - Research Databases, EBooks, Discovery Service

5bd95eb5f3a21.jpg