Objectives: In this present study, we aimed to perform the reliability and validity analyses of the Turkish Form of Short Form-12 version 2 (SF-12v2) in different groups of patients. Patients and methods: After the permission for the validation study of the Turkish Form, Optum provided the authors the validly translated Turkish Form of SF-12v2. The study was carried out in rheumatological, psychiatric, and surgical wards of Manisa Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Training and Research Center between September 2019 and June 2020. Taking possible dropouts into consideration, a total of 136 patients (67 males, 69 females; mean age: 43.5±14.4 years; range 19 to 82 years) constituted the study group. In addition to SF-12v2, for concurrent validity, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) was used as the comparator instrument. Results: In internal consistency, for the physical component summary score, the Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.80, and item-total score correlation coefficients were between 0.32 and 0.73. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the mental component summary score was found to be 0.88 where the item-total correlation coefficients varied between 0.60 and 0.78. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution, representing mental and physical components. For criterion validity, convergent and discriminant validity analyses were performed using NHP with SF-12v2, and domains of SF-12v2 correlated well with the domains of NHP accordingly. In criterion validity, the psychiatric group had the lowest mean score in mental health, vitality, social functioning and role difficulties due to emotional problems, whereas the surgical group had the lowest mean score in bodily pain, role difficulties due to physical problems, and physical functioning. Conclusion: Our study results show that the Turkish form of SF-12v2 is valid and reliable both in clinical practice and clinical trials.

Background: Environment-friendly practices refer to decreasing energy consumption, using resources carefully and sustainably, and reducing environmental pollution. An environment-friendly hospital is defined as a hospital where energy is saved, carbon emissions are decreased, and productivity and quality are increased. Operating rooms (ORs) account for most wastes generated daily by hospitals. Thus, adopting environment-friendly healthcare practices in ORs will have a positive impact on the environment. Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify and recommend environment-friendly practices that are feasible for implementation in ORs in Turkey. Methods: Data on the environment-friendly practices that are currently being practiced in the ORs of hospitals in Izmir Province were collected using face-to-face interviews with nurses who were in charge of ORs in Izmir Province. The interviews were conducted using an OR identification form and Greening the OR Checklist. The study population included all of the hospitals in Izmir Province, and the study sample included 18 ORs in the 11 hospitals that consented to take part in the research. Permission to conduct this research was obtained from the ethics committee of the nursing school as well as from the participating hospitals where the study was conducted. Results: The hospitals included in the study had, on average, 7.44 ± 7.32 ORs, each of which employed an average of 16.83 ± 17.16 nurses. Four fifths (83.3%) of the ORs always monitored their wastes, and 88.9% gave their batteries to recyclers. In addition, 72.2% renewed their surgical sets to reduce excessive use of materials, and 72.2% preferred using reusable materials instead of single-use materials in their surgical sets. However, 66.7% of the ORs had no environmental team, 93% did not use an environmentally safe surface cleaner, 83.3% did not use sensor controls on lights, and 66.7% did not use LED lights. Conclusions: Although most hospitals did not have a special team to recommend and enforce environment-friendly procedures, the OR nurses did their best to protect the environment.