Duygu Aktar Reyhanioğlu

Objective: Robotic rehabilitation has become an increasingly important research area in neurorehabilitation due to its potential to provide intensive, repetitive, and task-oriented interventions. This study aimed to examine graduate theses completed in the field of robotic rehabilitation in Türkiye in terms of bibliometric, thematic, and methodological characteristics. Methods: This retrospective and descriptive bibliometric analysis was conducted using data obtained from the National Thesis Center database of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). The database was systematically searched on April 23, 2026, using keywords related to robotic rehabilitation. After removing duplicate records and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 44 theses were included in the analysis. The theses were evaluated according to publication year, university, department, thesis type, advisor title, and patient group. Descriptive statistics were calculated as frequencies and percentages. Results: A total of 398 thesis records were initially identified, and 106 unique theses remained after duplicate removal. Of these, 44 theses met the eligibility criteria. The highest number of theses was completed in 2023 and 2025. Most theses were conducted at the University of Health Sciences and Istanbul Medipol University. The majority were carried out in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation departments. Master’s theses constituted the largest proportion. Stroke was the most frequently examined patient group. Conclusion: Robotic rehabilitation is a developing and increasingly studied field in Türkiye. However, doctoral-level studies and research involving diverse patient groups remain limited. Future studies should adopt methodologically rigorous designs and focus on broader patient-centered outcomes.

Aim: This study aimed to assess knowledge levels regarding rare diseases among health sciences students in Turkey as it is thought that these knowledge levels may be limited, and this situation may be associated with various risks in terms of early diagnosis, patient safety, and healthcare service efficiency. Rare diseases, despite their low individual prevalence, collectively represent an important public health concern due to their diagnostic complexity and limited treatment options. In this context, the present study also sought to identify specific gaps in students’ knowledge, explore the relationship between subjective awareness and objectively measured knowledge, and highlight key educational needs to inform the development of health professions curricula. Understanding these dimensions is important, as insufficient knowledge may delay early diagnosis, negatively affect patient safety, and reduce healthcare service efficiency. Methods: A total of 206 students (156 females, 50 males; aged ≥18 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected through face-to-face and online questionnaires to enhance accessibility. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling from faculties of health sciences. Knowledge and awareness levels were assessed using the Rare Diseases Knowledge and Awareness Scale. Results: The mean knowledge score was 4.56 ± 3.13 (range: 0–22), indicating low levels of knowledge. Students familiar with the term “rare diseases” had significantly higher scores (U = 4457, z = –3.17, p = .002). Knowledge levels differed significantly according to self-assessed awareness (χ²(4) = 11.28, p = .024), with those reporting “very poor” awareness scoring lower than others.Conclusion: Health sciences students in Turkey demonstrate limited knowledge of rare diseases. Prior exposure is associated with higher levels of awareness and knowledge. These findings highlight the need to integrate structured and interdisciplinary education on rare diseases into health professions education to support early diagnosis and improve patient care. From a medical education perspective, embedding rare diseases within competency-based curricula through case-based learning, early clinical exposure, and structured assessment strategies may offer a sustainable approach to bridging this gap and better preparing future professionals for real-world clinical complexity.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder, and patients increasingly use YouTube to obtain health-related information. Objective: This study aimed to assess the content quality and informational reliability of YouTube videos on PD exercises. Methods: A total of 150 English-language YouTube videos were screened using the search terms “Parkinson exercises”, “Parkinson physiotherapy exercises”, and “Parkinson home exercise program”. For each video, the source, upload date, number of views, likes, dislikes, and comments were recorded. The Video Power Index (VPI) was assessed using the view ratio (views/day) and like ratio (likes × 100 / [likes + dislikes]). The clinical quality, reliability, and educational value of PD–specific exercise videos were assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), and guideline-based criteria derived from the European Physiotherapy Guideline for Parkinson's Disease (PD-GEC). Results: A total of 29 videos met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Videos explaining how and why exercises were performed demonstrated higher mDiscern and GQS scores, while providing repetition, duration, and intensity information was associated with higher GQS scores but not mDiscern (p = 0.080); no differences were observed for disease specificity, functional linkage, or safety warnings (all p > 0.05). PD-GEC scores were not significantly related to video engagement metrics. Conclusion: Higher-quality videos tended to provide clear explanations of exercise rationale and dosage, while guideline-based clinical features, including PD-GEC criteria, were not associated with viewer engagement.

Access to digital health information has increased for women diagnosed with breast cancer; however, searching, understanding, and interpreting this informa

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI-TR). The study included 127 patients aged 45 ? 76 years who were previously diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Stability of the instrument was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Reliability of the MNSI-TR was assessed using Kuder?Richardson formula 20 test, item-total correlations, and floor/ceiling effect. Validity was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. A logistic regression model was used to determine to what degree the MNSI-TR explain nerve conduction study (NCS) results in the prediction of neuropathy Results: With a cut-off value of 3.5 for the questionnaire, sensitivity and specificity of the MNSI-TR were 75.5% and 68.1%, respectively. A cut-off of 2.75 for the physical assessment part of the scale resulted in 87.5% sensitivity and 93.6% specificity. The scale was able to diagnose neuropathy in the rate of 71.5% of the patients diagnosed with neuropathy by NCS. The MNSI-TR is a valid and reliable method for evaluating diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Turkish speaking societies. It must be obtained a minimum of 4 points from the questionnaire part and a minimum of 2.5 points from the physical assessment part for the diagnosis of neuropathy.