Complementary, Traditional and Spiritual Practices Used by Cancer Patients in Turkey When Coping with Pain: An Exploratory Case Study.

This study was conducted to determine the complementary and traditional-spiritual practices applied by individuals diagnosed with cancer when experiencing significant pain. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 patients who were receiving chemotherapy treatment in a university hospital outpatient treatment unit (Chemotherapy Unit) between 1st March and 30th June 2019. The study sample size was calculated using the 'unknown-population sample selection formula' (n = t2·p·q·/d2). Study data were collected using a patient information form comprising 13 questions about the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, diseases, and complementary practices. The data were analyzed using descriptive percentage tests and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software. The study found that 45.5% of the cancer patients took a walk, 38.2% listened to music, 27.3% watched movies, 24.5% received massages, 20.0% read newspapers or books, 20.0% did sports, and 10.9% dreamed in painful situations. Spiritual practices used by the patients were determined as praying (46.4%), engaging in salat (the daily ritual prayers of Islam) (30.9%) and reading religious books (23.6%). The herbal practices applied by the patients include the use of garlic, mulberry molasses, pomegranate, green tea; furthermore, herbs such as honey, sage, lime, black cumin, ginger, centaury, thyme, nettle, flaxseeds, and rosehip were also used. Most of the patients learned complementary practices from television programs (62.7%); only 8.2% learned these practices from healthcare professionals. Nurses should investigate patients' use of complementary practices and provide them with the necessary evidence-based information to prevent unconscious use of these practices. Considering that determining patients' spiritual needs and practices is seen as the first step in the holistic care of patients, it is important to satisfy cancer patients by providing necessary healthcare services and help them improve their physical and mental health.

Clinicopathologic importance of atypical glandular cells in cervico-vaginal cytology

Objective: To analyze the histopathologic outcomes of patients with atypical glandular cells (AGC) in cervicovaginal cytology examinations. Material and Methods: Patients with AGC in cervicovaginal cytology were included in this study between March 2011 and March 2018 and patient data were collected retrospectively among all cytology results. AGC classification of cervicovaginal cytology were based on the Bethesda 2001 classification system. Results: The total prevalence of cervical epithelial cell abnormality and AGC were found as 4.2% and 0.2%, respectively, in the study cohort. AGC-favor neoplasia (AGC-FN) was the subgroup of AGC with the highest malignancy rate with 62.5% (p=0.06). The incidence of malignancy in the postmenopausal group (33.3%) was detected higher than in the premenopausal group (8.3%) (p=0.07). Conclusion: The probability of malignancy in AGC-FN cytology is more commonly associated with malignancy in the postmenopausal group. Therefore, histopathologic examination is strongly recommended in these patients with AGC smears because of the high risk for malignancy in this group.

An analysis of 635 consequetive laparoscopic hysterectomy patients in a tertiary referral hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this retrospective observational study is to analyse the properties of laparoscopic hysterectomy cases that are performed for benign indications and also endometrial cancer indications. Operation time, postoperative complicaton rate, blood transfusion need, and hospitalization time are compared according to benign and malign indications and also body mass index of the patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who were operated between September 2012 and December 2017 are included in this study. Patients' age, body mass index, medical histories, operation indications, operation time, pathology reports, pre and postoperative hemoglobine values and postoperative complications are obtained from medical records.Body mass index is classified as underweight for <19 ; normal for 19-25 ; overweight for 25-30 and obese for ≥30. RESULTS: Operation and hospitalization times were significantly higher for high BMI and malign gynecologic indication groups than lower BMI and benign gynecologic indication groups (p:0.0001). Complication rates and transfusion needs were similar in between malign and benign gynecologic disease groups (p :0.443; P:0.670 respectively) and also in between high and lower BMI groups (P:0.813 ; P:0.468 respectively). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic approach for hysterectomy operations in high BMI patients and endometrial cancer patients seem to be safe in terms of postoperative complication and bleeding that necessitate transfusion.