Online solution-focused psychoeducation as a new intervention for treating severe fear of childbirth: A randomized controlled trial in the pandemic period.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of solution-focused psychoeducation (SFP) and childbirth preparation training (CPT) on women's fear of childbirth and self-efficacy. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was carried out at the family health center in Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 119 healthy primigravid women. These women were randomized into the SFP group (n = 39), CPT group (n = 40), and control group care (n = 40). FINDINGS: After the intervention, the women in the experiment groups had decreased fear of childbirth and increased self-efficacy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Midwifery care based on education and counseling provided by online synchronous video conferencing method during the pandemic period is an effective and safe method in reducing fear of childbirth in women and increasing their self-efficacy.

Effectiveness of postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model: An interventional study.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effects of a postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model on postpartum women. METHODS: The interventional study was completed with 67 postpartum women. The intervention group was given the postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model. The control group received routine discharge training. The data were collected using a personal information form, The Index of Female Sexual Function, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction. RESULTS: It has been determined that the decrease in sexual arousal and desire is the first among postpartum sexual problems experienced by women. This study demonstrated that sexual function, sexual satisfaction and sexual response were higher in nonbreastfeeding women, women who had sexual intercourse one to three times a week and women who could talk to health care professionals on sexual matters. After the programme, the intervention group had more adequate sexual function, and they developed a strong, easy and satisfactory sexual response than the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This programme was effective in increasing the sexual functions and satisfaction of the postpartum women. Models provide guidance to nurses for provision of care in a systematic manner.

Breast self-examination, mammography and Pap test among Turkish women: Role of healthcare professionals in Sivas.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study is to determine how often women perform breast self-examination (BSE) and undergo mammography and Pap test, and how healthcare professionals affect them to do so. METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out with 1025 women, aged 20-82 years and living in the central district of Sivas, who presented to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinics of Hospitals between January and December 2010, and who volunteered to participate in the study and gave their verbal agreement to the researchers. RESULTS: Out of the participants, 46.9% lacked mammogram knowledge, 13.2% received advice from healthcare professionals, and 20.1% thought that they were healthy and thus did not need mammography. Out of the participants, 45.9% lacked knowledge about the Pap test, 11.8% received advice from healthcare professionals, and 18.9% thought that they were healthy and thus did not need a 'Pap test'. CONCLUSIONS: While one-fourth of the participants stated that they performed BSE and underwent mammography at least once, more than half reported that they did not have a Pap test. In preventive healthcare services, periodic health examinations and screenings for the most common types of women cancers should be increased; midwives should give education and counseling, and the importance of practices aimed at raising social awareness should be emphasized.

The effect of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) education program on EFM interpretation skills.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to train midwifery students on electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) within the scope of the course and then to evaluate their pre- and post-course EFM knowledge and EFM interpreting skills.Methods: This interventional study was carried out at the Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences. The study population comprised of the senior (last-year, 4th-year) students who attended the Midwifery Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences during the academic years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. Of the 4th year students in the midwifery department, 42 who attended the school during the academic year 2015-16 and 61 who attended the school during the academic year 2016-2017 and accepted to participate in the study comprised the study sample.Results: The difference between the pre- and post-EFM course scores was statistically significant (p<.05). While the mean score obtained by the students before the EFM course was 55.29 ± 11.17, it was 76.15 ± 6.72 after the EFM course. Analysis of the success rates of the midwifery students in the EFM/NST course demonstrated that 80.6% of the students were successful.Conclusions: The findings of the study demonstrated that the participants' postcourse EFM knowledge and trace interpretation skills were better than their precourse EFM knowledge and trace interpretation skills.

Effect of episiotomy training with beef tongue and sponge simulators on the self-confidence building of midwifery students.

This study assesses the efficacy of simulation-based episiotomy training (SBET) with beef tongue and sponge models in terms of the self confidence of midwifery students while performing episiotomy. Third-year midwifery students from Cumhuriyet University in the fall semesters of 2011 and 2012 were enrolled in the sponge and beef tongue model groups (n = 36 and n = 37, respectively). A checklist was prepared on the required skills for performing episiotomy which can be broken into three main parts, namely preparation, cutting and repairing and completion. According to the checklist, a Likert type questionnaire was developed including 5 items for preparation, 11 items for cutting and repairing, and 6 items for completion. After SBET with the sponge and beef tongue models in our laboratories of Midwifery Department, the students performed episiotomy steps in laboring women in Sivas State Hospital and then they filled in the questionnaire to indicate whether they gained self-confidence in performing episiotomy or not. Although, participants of both groups have successfully completed all the steps of episiotomy, overall, beef tongue model was found to be more successful regarding their self-confidence (p < 0.05), including the skills in performing local anesthesia; choosing needle holder, suture material and scissor for cutting; identifying apex, hymen and skin; using needle holder properly while penetrating into the skin, suturing vaginal mucosa until hymen, knotting, and suturing perineal muscles and skin. Our results suggest that while SBET with both models are applicable for episiotomy training of midwifery students in the laboratory setting, SBET with beef tongue model provides an additional increase in their self-confidence in the clinical settings.

The Effect of Uterine and Nipple Stimulation on Induction With Oxytocin and the Labor Process.

AIMS: The present research study was conducted with the objective of determining the effect of uterine and nipple stimulation on induction with oxytocin and the birth process. METHODS: A randomized controlled experiment was conducted at the maternity ward of a state hospital located in the province of Sivas in Turkey. Three hundred ninety pregnant women who were giving birth via vaginal delivery were randomly assigned to three groups (nipple stimulation, uterine stimulation, control). After the birth, the groups were assessed in terms of the birth duration and synthetic induction with oxytocin. Statistical analyses were performed through the use of SPSS 14.0 software and included analysis of variance, Tukey's test, Dunnett's test, Tamhane's T2 test, and chi-square test. RESULTS: The study established statistically significant differences (p < .05) among the groups in terms of the average durations of the first, second and third phases of the action of birth, the status concerning delivery by C-section and the application of labor induction. The phases of birth were shorter for the nipple stimulation group (first phase: 3.8 hours, second phase: 16 minutes, third phase: 5 minutes) and the uterine stimulation group (first phase: 4.0 hours, second phase: 21 minutes, third phase: 6 minutes) when compared to the control group (first phase: 6.8 hours, second phase: 27 minutes, third phase: 6 minutes). In the control group, 89.2% of the pregnant women were subject to labor induction and 8.5% to cesarean section. No women in the nipple stimulation group or uterine stimulation group had a cesarean section. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Nipple and uterine stimulation reduce the frequency of elective labor induction, the rate of relevant complications, and support normal vaginal birth by providing endogenous labor induction. Therefore, these interventions should be considered for pregnant women in labor.

Determining the knowledge of women and their attitudes regarding gynecological cancer prevention.

The current study determines the knowledge of female course attendees of the "Municipality Cultural Center for Women", located in the city center of Sivas, Turkey, and their attitudes regarding gynecological cancer prevention. The participants of the study include 497 women attending one of the two Municipality Cultural Centers situated in the city center of Sivas. In this study, the sample was not selected; all participants were encompassed within the scope of our research. A total of 418 female course attendees who volunteered to participate in the research were identified as the sample. The data were collected during the months March-June 2011, by a questionnaire developed by the researchers. To compare the distribution of the collected data "Anova", "two independent t test examples" and "chi square test" were used. The research indicates that 45.1% of the women had had gynecological examination as a consequence of a physical disorder. The reason for 54.9% of the women to have gynecological examination is to have been scanned to check for gynecological cancer, 51.2% had a pap smear test. Some 34.9% of them had obtained information about cervical cancer, 39.7% via radio, television or internet and 36.3% from a doctor. Age, education level and marital status of the women participating in this study demonstrated statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) with gynecological examination and undergoing a pap smear test.