Sexual health knowledge and influencing factors among health science students at a state university in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: It is important to determine the sexual health knowledge and educational needs of university health science students, as they need this knowledge in both their personal and professional lives. We aimed to determine the sexual health knowledge and affecting factors of health science students in Turkey. METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out among students at a university faculty of health sciences in Ankara province, Turkey. Data were collected using a student information form and the Sexual Health Knowledge Test (SHKT). RESULTS: The study comprised 738 participants. Students' mean SHKT score was moderate (25.13 ± 5.28; range 0-40). The lowest correct response rates in the SHKT were to questions on sexually transmitted infections (45.6%) and safe sexual behaviour (53.5%). Students' main sources of information on sexual health were the internet (72%) and friends (40.9%). The most important factors affecting SHKT scores were having graduated from a health-education high school (eta2 = 0.035); having a working mother (eta2 = 0.023); getting sexual health information from the internet (eta2 = 0.019), from friends (eta2 = 0.018) or from school/teachers (eta2 = 0.015); having friends of the opposite sex for emotional and/or social support (eta2 = 0.010); and being female (eta2 = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The results indicate the importance of educating young people and their parents about sexual health. We recommend that the sexual health educational needs of university students in health sciences should not be overlooked; these students have similar needs to those of students in other fields.

The impact of communication education provided with creative drama method on midwifery undergraduates.

INTRODUCTION: This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of communication education provided by using creative drama method on the communication skills, selfesteem, and organizational conflict resolution skills of midwifery undergraduates. METHODS: The research was conducted as a semi-experimental 'controlled pretest-posttest' method. The study was carried out with freshmen studying midwifery at a public university in Western Turkey (n=52) between 30 September and 30 December 2017. Data were collected by means of the Communication Skills Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II. Throughout the research process, a 12-week lesson plan covering the stages of the creative drama method was applied. During the collection of the data, the scales were applied to the group as pretest, posttest while dependent t-test was applied for analyzing purposes. RESULTS: Communication Skills Inventory behavioral communication skills created a significant difference between Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale self-esteem subscale scores (p>0.05). No significant difference was detected among the Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory sub-dimension mean scores (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings obtained from the research reveal that the creative drama method effectively develops communication skills, self-esteem, and conflict resolution skills for midwifery undergraduates.

Construct and content validity of the Turkish Birth Satisfaction Scale - Revised (T-BSS-R).

BACKGROUND: The Birth Satisfaction Scale - Revised (BSS-R) is a valid and reliable scale designed to assess women's experiences of labour and childbirth. OBJECTIVE: To assess factor structure, validity, and reliability of the Turkish Birth Satisfaction Scale - Revised (T-BSS-R) using data collected from a Turkish population. SETTING: Istanbul Ministry of Health Zeynep Kamil Women's and Children's Training and Research Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of healthy child-bearing women (n = 120) who had experienced a spontaneous vertex delivery at full term. METHOD: A survey was conducted post backtranslating the T-BSS-R, with survey data analysed using confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: Factor modelling found three subscales embedded in the T-BSS-R, which indicated a good model fit, χ2 = 44.67, CFI = .94; RMSEA = .057; SRMR = .075. A Chi-square value of 1.33 also indicated a good fit. Means for the T-BSS-R subdimensions (1) Stress Experienced (T-BSS-SE-R) = 6.86 ± 3.10, (2) Women's Attributes (T-BSS-WA-R) = 2.84 ± 1.89, (3) Quality of Care (T-BSS-QC-R) = 10.69 ± 3.19 and total scale = 20.39 ± 5.98. The Cronbach alpha coefficient for total scale = 0.71 and for subdimensions T-BSS-SE-R = 0.55, T-BSS-WA-R = 0.44 and T-BSS-QC-R = -0.74. CONCLUSION: Data analysis determined that the T-BSS-R is a valid and reliable instrument to measure birth satisfaction in a population of Turkish women. The T-BSS-R is available for use from c.hollinsmartin@napier.ac.uk .

The behaviour of pelvic floor muscles during uterine contractions in spontaneous and oxytocin-induced labour.

Term pregnant women were divided into oxytocin infusion and control groups. The electrical activities of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) were recorded at rest and during contractions electromyographically. The beginning and the end of each contraction were marked on the recorded electromyographic trace. A trace was regarded as 'negative' if no increase in electrical activity was observed and 'positive' if increased electrical activity was observed during the contractions. To evaluate the relative frequency of the areas of electrical activity during uterine contractions (UC) a 'positive electrical activity percentage' was used and calculated as: (total count of positive electrical activity areas)/(total count of UC) × 100. Positive and negative electrical activity percentages were compared. The percentages were significantly different between the groups (p <.01). Positive traces increased in 56.1 and 18.8% in study and control groups, respectively, (p < .01). Multiparous women showed more positive traces than nulliparous women, both in oxytocin-treated and spontaneous labour groups (p < .01). The rate of performed episiotomies was higher in the oxytocin-infused labours (p = .01). During physiological labour contractions the predominant behaviour of PFM seemed to be a relative silent status compared to a more contractile status caused by oxytocin administration. Contracted muscles may produce a counterpressure against expulsive UC leading to obstetrical injuries of these muscles and clinically higher rates in episiotomy decisions. This is the first report of behaviour of PFM during labour contractions and further prospective studies are needed to assess the role of oxytocin administration on PFM and associated clinical consequences. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? The physiological functions of pelvic floor muscles depend on the coordinated actions of these muscles and rely also on unique interactions between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Oxytocin is commonly used for the induction and augmentation of uterine contractions and such an induced labour may be more painful for the woman. What do the results of this study add? Pelvic floor muscles tend to contract more frequently during uterine contractions as labour progresses. This difference was more pronounced in labours which were treated with oxytocin infusion. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This is the first report of electrophysiological behaviour of pelvic floor muscles during labour contractions in spontaneous and oxytocin-induced labour. Oxytocin administration seems to interfere with the coordination of uterine and pelvic floor muscle contractions. This study may be of interest for researchers to investigate the effect of the worldwide liberal use of oxytocin for induction of labour on pelvic floor muscle damage during parturition.

Determination of national midwifery ethical values and ethical codes: in Turkey.

It is important to define and practice ethical rules and codes for professionalisation. Several national and international associations have determined midwifery ethical codes. In Turkey, ethical rules and codes that would facilitate midwifery becoming professionalised have not yet been determined. This study was planned to contribute to the professionalisation of midwifery by determining national ethical values and codes. A total of 1067 Turkish midwives completed the survey. The most prevalent values of Turkish midwives were care for mother-child health, responsibility and professional adequacy. The preferred professional codes chosen by Turkish midwives were absence of conflicts of interest, respect for privacy, avoidance of deception, reporting of faulty practices, consideration of mothers and newborns as separate beings and prevention of harm. In conclusion, cultural values, beliefs and expectations of society cannot be underestimated, although the international professional values and codes of ethics contribute significantly to professionalisation of the midwifery profession.

Validation of the short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) in a Turkish population.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Turkish translated version of short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). STUDY DESIGN: After the test-retest reliability and internal consistency were established in a pilot study, 270 patients were enrolled and general and subscale scores of the questionnaire were calculated. All participants underwent the International Continence Society (ICS) prolapse score (POP-Q) and urodynamic assessment. Main scores and scores of Prolapse Quality of Life questionnaire (PQoL) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) were compared between patients with incontinence+/-prolapse and asymptomatic women. RESULTS: 62.24% of the participants showed urodynamic abnormality and/or leakage with or without prolapse. 28.91% had prolapse stage 3 or higher diagnosed by the POP-Q system. PISQ-12 showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha was 0.89). For test-retest reliability Spearman's rho was 0.72-0.79 for all domains. The mean scores of PISQ-12 were significantly better in asymptomatic women compared with the incontinence+/-prolapse group. Sexual function was negatively affected by prolapse and/or incontinence as assessed with PQoL and IIQ-7 questionnaires. CONCLUSION: The Turkish translated version of the PISQ-12 is a reliable, consistent and valid instrument to evaluate sexual functioning in women with urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse. It is easy to understand that it may be easily administered and self-completed by the women.