The effects of yoga and progressive muscle relaxation exercises on premenstrual syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

In this study, university students with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were evaluated for their responses to the practices of yoga and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) to combat PMS, and the depression, anxiety, and stress associated with it. A total of 68 students participated in a randomized controlled trial. They were divided into four parallel groups: a yoga intervention group (n = 17), a PMR intervention group (n = 17), a yoga and PMR intervention group (n = 17), and a control group (n = 17). Data were collected between April 2022 and June 2022, from students who practiced only yoga, who practiced only PMR, and who practiced both yoga and PMR. A Personal Information Form, the PMS Scale, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale were used as measurement tools. The yoga and yoga + PMR groups had lower scores for the PMS Scale in the posttest than the other groups (p < .05). Depression, anxiety, and stress sub-dimension mean scores were lower in the yoga, PMR + yoga, and PMR groups compared to the control group (p < .05). The results suggest that yoga and PMR interventions are beneficial non-pharmacological treatments for PMS, depression, anxiety, and stress.Clinical Registration Name, Registration Number, Registration Date: The Effects of Yoga and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises on Premenstrual Syndrome, NCT05396976, April 5, 2022.

The effect of COVID-19 fear on midwifery students anxiety, self-confidence.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated independently of clinical education, it has been emphasized that students experience fear, anxiety, sadness and uncertainty during the pandemic. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of fear of COVID-19 on the level of anxiety and self-confidence of midwifery students who did their clinical internship during the pandemic. METHODS: Convenience sampling yielded 181 senior midwifery students who had experienced clinical internships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two state universities conducted an online cross-sectional predictive study from February to June 2021. Data were collected by an Information Form, the COVID-19 Fear Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Self-Confidence Scale. RESULTS: The study findings were that the students' fear of COVID-19 (16.72 ± 4.89), state anxiety (52.65 ± 8.41), and trait anxiety (48.66 ± 6.80) were above average, and their self-confidence was moderate. The result indicated that midwifery students' fear of COVID-19 increased, their state anxiety increased (p < 0.01), and their self-confidence decreased (p < 0.01). Fear of COVID-19 accounted for 47% of state anxiety, 6% of trait anxiety, and 22% of self-confidence. CONCLUSION: The level of COVID-19 fear of midwifery students who did clinical internships during the pandemic negatively affected their anxiety and self-confidence levels (Tab. 4, Ref. 34). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: pandemic, midwifery, fear of COVID-19, anxiety, self-confidence.

Mothers' Experiences of Tandem Breastfeeding: A Phenomenological Study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite many benefits of tandem breastfeeding, mothers stop breastfeeding their older babies early during pregnancy due to inadequate knowledge and support. This study was conducted to determine the tandem breastfeeding experiences of mothers. STUDY DESIGN: A phenomenological design was used in this study. The data of the study were collected between January and August 2018. In-depth, individual, open-ended interviews were carried out for data collection. A personal information form and a semi-structured in-depth interview form were used to collect data. It was conducted with 13 women who were tandem breastfeeding, 9 of whom had given birth and 4 of whom were pregnant. RESULTS: The data obtained from the interviews with mothers who were tandem breastfeeding were classified into nine themes, namely: metaphors, feelings, benefits, myths, facilitators, pathways to tandem breastfeeding, fears and worries, difficulties, and obstacles. Mothers experienced many benefits of tandem breastfeeding for maternal and infant health. In addition, although there was no evidence in the literature regarding the harms of tandem breastfeeding, they encountered many myths about it. These myths increased their concerns about this type of breastfeeding. Mothers could not get enough information and support from health care professionals, and this was reported as a challenging experience of tandem breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: Despite many positive experiences, mothers who tandem breastfeed may also face various difficulties. They need a breastfeeding-friendly environment and support from family and health professionals to cope with these challenges. KEY POINTS: · Mothers experienced many benefits of tandem breastfeeding for maternal and infant health.. · Pain and tenderness in the breasts, insomnia, and fatigue show the issues that should be supported in tandem breastfeeding mothers.. · Some women felt uterine contractions during pregnancy, but none of them experienced abortion or premature birth.. · In the absence of a risky condition, tandem breastfeeding should be supported and the concerns caused by myths should be replaced by proven scientific results..

The effects of amniotic fluid and foetal cord blood cotinine concentrations on pregnancy complications and the anthropometric measurements of newborns.

Our objective was determining the effects of amniotic fluid (AF) and fetal cord blood (FCB) cotinine concentrations on pregnancy complications and the anthropometric measurements in the newborns whose mothers underwent amniocentesis. This study was conducted as a case-control study, in Turkey. A total of 250 pregnant women with amniocentesis indication were recruited into the study and the cotinine levels in the AF and FCB were determined. A smoking habit did not statistically affect the incidence of pregnancy complications (p>.05). The birth weights of the newborns were negatively correlated with the AF cotinine levels. The incidences of low birth weight, low Apgar scores and RDS were positively correlated with higher levels of cotinine in AF and FCB. It is important for healthcare staff to provide training and consultancy services for the health improvement of pregnant women and the prevention of smoking during pregnancy. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? The pre-pregnancy smoking habit usually continues during the pregnancy. A significant negative correlation was present between the foetal cord blood cotinine levels and the birth weight. What do the results of this study add? The anthropometric measurements of the newborns born from mothers with high AF cotinine levels were lower than newborns born from mothers with low amniotic fluid cotinine levels. Respiratory Distress syndrome is more often determined in newborns born from mothers with high AF cotinine levels. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Future studies should be performed to investigate the effects of cigarette smoking on the health problems, the growth characteristics and the neurological development of newborns and infants within the first year of life.

Quality of Sexual Life and Attitudes toward Menopause among Postmenopausal Women Living in Northern Cyprus: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Most middle-aged women in the menopausal period consider sexuality an important part of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors affecting the quality of sexual life and attitudes toward menopause in postmenopausal women and the effects of their attitudes toward menopause on the quality of sexual life. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with postmenopausal women in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus between July 2021 and April 2022. The research sample consisted of 255 postmenopausal women. The Attitudes Toward Menopause Scale and the Sexual Quality of Life Scale (SQLS) were used to collect data. The questionnaire forms were administered online. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Tukey's test, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression analysis. Results: The mean score of the participants on the SQLS was 43.54 ± 12.56 and the mean score of the Attitudes Toward Menopause Scale was 60.39 ± 16.29. The study revealed that variables such as age, level of education, employment status, duration of menopause, and knowledge about menopause have an effect on women's sexual life quality. In addition to the listed variables, income level was found to affect attitudes toward menopause. A positive attitude toward menopause causes an increase in the level of sexual life quality (ß = 0.544, R2 = 0.30, F = 106.260, R = 0.544, P = 0.001). Conclusions: The attitudes of postmenopausal women toward menopause are an important determinant of their sexual life quality. For this reason, it is recommended to develop and implement training programs that can improve sexual health of women and their attitudes toward menopause.

"I Am Grateful for Every Day I Live": A Qualitative Study on the Spiritual Experiences of Women With Gynecological Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Considering the life-threatening nature of gynecological cancers, spirituality and religious beliefs may play a key role in the experiences of the patients during the disease process and their coping. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the spiritual experiences of Muslim women with gynecological cancer during the disease process. METHODS: A qualitative, phenomenological, and hermeneutic approach was followed in the research. Fourteen women with gynecological cancer in Turkey were interviewed individually. The thematic analysis approach of Braun and Clarke was used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: The results of the data analysis revealed 3 themes (consisting of 9 subthemes): (1) reaction to cancer: spiritual distress (fear of death, perception of punishment, fear of obscurity and uncertainty, and being a cause of spiritual distress in the family); (2) reaction to cancer: spiritual well-being (accepting whatever may come from Allah, strengthening the faith in Allah); and (3) spiritual resources for coping with cancer (religious practices, hobbies and complementary practices, and family support). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study shed light on the cases that may cause spiritual distress and improve the spiritual well-being that is experienced by Muslim women with gynecological cancer during the disease process; they also reveal that religion has an effect on the experiences during the cancer process and the coping methods. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Healthcare professionals who care for Muslim women with gynecological cancer should plan spiritual care by being aware of the cultural characteristics and religious beliefs of these women and their families.

A SWOT analysis of the opinions of midwifery students about distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of face-to-face education and its replacement with distance education. This has caused important changes in midwifery education. OBJECTIVE: To determine midwifery students' opinions about distance education. DESIGN: This qualitative study employed an exploratory case study design. SETTING: This study was carried out at a national university in Ankara, Turkey between December 2020 and January 2021. PARTICIPANTS: The sample of the study comprised 50 students in the midwifery department. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: Data were collected using a SWOT analysis interview form developed by the researchers. The research findings were grouped into four themes: Satisfaction with distance education, barriers of distance education, facilitating aspects of distance education, and concerns about professional career. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Distance education in midwifery education in Turkey was found to have aspects involving obstacles and concerns in addition to many pleasing and facilitating features. Our findings suggest distance education can be used together with face-to-face education provided that its pleasing and facilitating aspects are supported and the obstacles and factors causing concerns are removed. Inclusion of distance methods in midwifery programs requires curricula to be updated and support from instructors and students for the development of the necessary infrastructure. There is a role for employing bodies to faciliate practice-based learning for new graduates to address their concerns with a lack of practical experience because of COVID-19 restrictions on placement.