Background: The response phase is a phase of disaster management that begins when a disaster occurs. The experience of the First Responders who responded in the first days to the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, which killed more than fifty thousand people, is expected to inform and add value to the preparations for subsequent disasters. Methods: A qualitative approach was used; focus group interviews were conducted with 15 first responders (8 fire fighters and 7 medical personnel) that responded in the first moments of the devastating Kahramanmaraş and Hatay earthquakes. The interviews conducted in June 2023. A qualitative approach with the thematic analysis method was employed. Results: Based on the analyses the research six main themes and 13 subthemes were identified. The identified themes were resources, needs, collaboration, innovation, disaster management and challenges. The participants emphasized the need for better communication tools, protective equipment, and technologies such as drones and advanced sensors to enhance disaster response efforts. The findings also highlight the critical role of collaboration between different organizations and the necessity for integrated disaster management practices and applications. The findings obtained from the views of experienced first responders will inspire national and international disaster crisis managers, policy makers and technology providers to develop more effective disaster response methods. Through technological solutions and better training, the safety and effectiveness of first responders can be significantly improved in future disaster scenarios. Conclusions: This study fills an important gap in the literature by investigating the innovation needs and challenges faced by first responders during the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. In this study, the gap analysis was determined through interviews conducted with teams that responded to the 2023 major Turkey earthquake in the initial hours following the disaster. These findings are of significant value in guiding the improvement of the approaches and development of technological products in the field of disaster management.

Background: Interprofessional Education (IPE) is an educational approach that brings together students from different healthcare professions to foster collaborative learning and teamwork. Before integrating IPE into the curriculum of health preprofessional students, it is necessary to increase their readiness for IPE. Dentistry increasingly values interprofessional collaboration and teamwork for enhanced patient care and healthcare team competencies, an emphasis also echoed by recent dental education authorities. The aim of this quasi-experimental research was to assess the influence of Scenario Based Learning Peer Learning (SBPL) programme, which involved scenarios necessitating interprofessional communication, on the readiness for IPE among a cohort of undergraduate dental students studying within the framework of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Methods: This study investigates undergraduate dental students’ readiness for IPE and the influence of SBPL programme on their readiness. Participants (n = 25) from 18 EHEA countries completed the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) before and after SBPL programme, held at the 70th European Dental Students’ Association (EDSA) meeting. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test (p = 0.05). Results: After the SBPT programme, there was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the mean of the total scale, teamwork and collaboration, roles and responsibilities and professional identity subscale. In general, SBPL programme showed a constructive effect on interprofessional readiness. Although there was no statistically significant increase only in items 9,12,18 of the 19 items of the RIPLS, there was an increase in the averages in all except item 12. Conclusion: Our research emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives and IPE in the realm of dental education. Within the limits of this study, it showcases the efficacy of a brief half-day SBPL programme with interprofessional scenarios in enhancing participants’ readiness. The programme notably enhanced dental students’ readiness in grasping crucial aspects of IPE: teamwork and collaboration, professional identity, and roles and responsibilities. However, this study does not delve into the potential impact of a comprehensive, long-term curriculum integrating IPE principles. This gap underscores the need for further exploration into the sustained influence of IPE on the interprofessional skills of dental school graduates.

Introduction: The global burden of tobacco is a significant public health concern, causing millions of deaths, illnesses, and economic losses annually. In Türkiye, tobacco use is deeply ingrained in society, with historical roots dating back to Ottoman times. The nation faces challenges such...

The One Health (OH) approach emphasises the relationship between human, animal, and environmental health, underscoring the necessity of cross-sectoral collaboration to address global health challenges. This paper explores the integration of oral health within the OH framework, mainly focusing on its relationship to antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, and climate change. Furthermore, this paper highlights how dental practices impact environmental sustainability and discusses the role of sustainable dentistry in reducing plastic waste, managing mercury disposal, and minimising pesticide exposure. Lastly, the paper offers actionable recommendations to support oral health professionals in adopting environmentally friendly practices, ultimately promoting a comprehensive OH approach to improve population health and resilience against future health threats.

Healthcare professionals involved in the management of adverse events often experience psychological and physical distress, known as the “second victim experience.” Anesthesia and intensive care settings are particularly vulnerable to such occurrences due to the high-stakes, and highly stressful work being performed by healthcare professionals. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and dimensions of second-victim experiences among anesthesia and intensive care professionals in Türkiye, while also identifying support preferences and organizational deficiencies. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 175 healthcare professionals working in anesthesia and intensive care units in Türkiye. The Turkish adaptation of the second-victim experience and support tool (T-SVEST) was used to assess psychological distress, physical distress, professional self-efficacy, perceived support mechanisms, and outcome variables such as turnover intentions and absenteeism. Psychometric analyses, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlation/regression tests were performed to evaluate the scale’s validity and to explore correlations among key variables. The T-SVEST demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.86) and an improved factor structure following the removal of low-performing items. High levels of psychological and physical distress significantly associated with professional self-efficacy, absenteeism, and turnover intentions were reported. Supervisor and institutional support were perceived as insufficient, particularly among less experienced staff. Age and work experience were positively correlated with colleague support, while married participants reported significantly lower physical distress. Peer support and professional counseling emerged as the most desired support mechanisms. Second-victim experiences are common and consequential among anesthesia and intensive care professionals in Türkiye. The findings have highlighted substantial gaps in organizational support structures and a strong demand for evidence-based peer support systems. Institutional efforts must focus on building a culture of safety and compassion through structured interventions, supervisor training, and proactive debriefing practices to mitigate the impact of adverse events on healthcare providers.

Biotechnology is reshaping dental public health by providing new tools for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases at scale. Salivary biomarkers enable non-invasive, early detection of caries, periodontitis, and oral cancer. Tissue engineering and regenerative approaches, driven by stem cell signaling and bioactive scaffolds, offer biologically integrated repair. Genomic discoveries now allow polygenic risk profiling to complement social determinants in identifying vulnerable groups, while novel biomaterials, probiotics, and vaccine research expand options for sustainable caries prevention. These innovations are underpinned by molecular mechanisms such as inflammatory signaling, stem cell differentiation pathways, and antimicrobial activity. Their translation into public health practice requires attention to affordability, regulation, equity, and workforce integration. Harnessed effectively, biotechnology can help shift oral health systems toward more preventive and equitable models of care.