The attitudes of nursing students regarding the complementary and alternative medicine

The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of nursing students towards complementary and alternative medicine. The sample consists of voluntary students (n=152) who had been present at school at the date of data collection. The data was collected via a questionnaire prepared by researchers and also via the "Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) which was developed by Hyland et al. (2003). The mean age of students was 20.09±1.6 (min=17, max=24). The mean score of scale was 25.41 ± 5.25 (min=11, max=45). The total score average of the first graders was 24.77±5.46, and of the last graders was 27.1±4.26. The difference between them was found to be statistically significant (t=- 2.482, p=0.014). It is detected that more than half of the student nurses have no information about complementary and alternative medicine and that last graders, compared to the first graders, have a more negative attitude towards CAM applications.

Mothers' Attitudes Toward Feeding Twin Babies in the First Six Months of Life: A Sample From Sakarya, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: It is stated in the literature that a mother's breast milk is sufficient for more than one baby. OBJECTIVES: This descriptive study aimed to determine whether twin babies are breastfed during their first six months of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the twin birth cases in a state hospital in Sakarya, Turkey between October 2011 and March 2013. The population of the study consisted of entire mothers who had delivered twins in the maternity ward of the hospital. The sample comprised 30 twins' mothers who agreed to participate in the study via telephone for six months. During these phone calls, they were asked how they preferred to feed their babies. The data were expressed as the mean and percentage. RESULTS: The average age of the mothers participating in the study was 30.17±5.16 years (min. 19; max. 38). The number of mothers who stated that they had no previous experience of breastfeeding twin babies and had received training to breastfeed multiple babies was 17 (56.7%). Twenty-seven (90%) of the mothers had had caesarean sections, and half of the babies were preterm. Only a few of the babies were fed breast milk for five months. During the following months, the breastfeeding regimen was as follows: 5 babies were breastfed for a month, 5 babies for 2 months, 4 babies for 3 months, 4 babies for 4 months, 2 babies for 5 months, and no babies in the sixth month. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the number of twin babies who were only breastfed in the first six months of life was low. According to the literature, a mother's breast milk is sufficient for multiple babies. Mothers expecting twin babies should be informed about the benefits of breastfeeding and be encouraged to breastfeed. They should also receive training on this subject.

The relationship between maternal attachment, perceived social support and breast-feeding sufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between maternal attachment, perceived social support and breast-feeding sufficiency. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive correlational design. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: A state hospital and two family health centers in Sakarya, Turkey, between June to December 2011. METHODOLOGY: The sample was 122 voluntary mothers who had healthy babies of 1 - 2 months old. The data were collected by a Personal Information Form, Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Breast-feeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). The data collected were analysed by percentage distribution, mean square, independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskall-Wallis and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The mean age of the mothers was 25.01 ± 2.2 years, and 48.4% of them were primary school graduates. BSESSF was 61.02 ± 8.44 (16 - 70), MAI was 99.07 ± 7.19 (56 - 100) and MSPSS was 66.40 ± 13.58 (37 - 84). There was a positive, medium level, significant relationship between the total scores of BSES-SF and MAI (r=0.370, p < 0.001). There was a positive, medium level, significant relationship between the total score of BSES-SF and the score from family subdimension of MSPSS (r=0.255, p < 0.01).There was a positive, medium level, significant relationship between the total score of MAI and the total score of family subdimension of MSPSS (r=0.339, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Successful maternal attachment and familial support positively affected the breast-feeding sufficiency of the mother.

Mothers' knowledge and attitudes about HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancers.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer which is one of the most preventable cancers is an important public health problem worldwide, and especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge and attitudes about the HPV vaccination of mothers with 0- to 18-year old children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Written approval was taken from the local authorities. The study subjects consisted of 799 mothers who agreed to participate. The data were collected via a "Personal Information Form" which included 30 questions that were prepared by the researchers themselves in line with the literature. The data were collected by face to face interviews with the mothers. Analyses were performed using commercial software. RESULTS: The mean age of the mothers who participated in the study was 32.0 ± 6.52, and 88.1% reported no information about HPV, and 83.5% no information about HPV vaccination. Only 0.7% of the mothers had daughters who had HPV vaccination, and 44.3% of the mothers who had sons were found out to be indecisive about having HPV vaccination. There was a significant corelation between the educational status of the mothers and their knowledge about HPV vaccination (p<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation in terms of economic conditions (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that mothers had very little information on HPV and HPV vaccination. Knowledge of the disease and its vaccination is an essential factor for the success of the vaccination program. It is of great importance that mothers are trained in this subject by health professionals.

Do the pens used by nursing students in clinics cause bacterial contamination?

BACKGROUND: Health professionals and their medical equipment have long been known to act as vectors of infectious diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of pens used by nursing students working in clinics in relation to transmission of bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in Sakarya University School of Health Sciences in March 2012, with the voluntary participation of 40 third-grade nursing students during their clinical practice. In total, 40 writing items were surveyed. RESULTS: Twenty-two (55%) of the students were doing their clinical practice at pediatrics department and 18 (45%) were at obstetrics and gynecology department. All the samples consisted of pens and bacterial contamination was observed in 5 (12.5%) of them. The microorganisms identified were: 1 (2.5%) sample was Staphylococcus hominis, 2 (5%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1 (2.5%) was Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and 1 (2.5%) was Staphylococcus warneri. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the risks of nosocomial infections, especially in pediatric units, if not enough attention is paid to the cleanliness of the pens used in the clinics.

Test anxiety levels and related factors: students preparing for university exams.

OBJECTIVE: To assess test anxiety levels and related factors among students preparing for university exams. METHODS: The descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at Istanbul University, Turkey, and comprised students preparing for exams in two private courses for the 2010-11 academic year. Data was collected via an original questionnaire and the Test Anxiety Inventory. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Of the 1250 students who qualified for the study, the final sample size was 376 (30%). Of them, 210 (55.9%) were females, and 154 (41%) were 18 years old. Students' mean Test Anxiety Inventory scores were 39.44±11.34. Female students' overall test anxiety scores and mean emotionality subscale score were significantly higher than those of their male counterparts. Students whose mothers had an educational attainment between primary school n=170 (45.2%) and a high school diploma n=184 (48.9%), as well as those with four or more siblings n=49 (15%), had significantly higher mean overall Test Anxiety Inventory scores. CONCLUSION: Among other things, test anxiety is influenced by maternal educational level, type of high school, number of exams, and number of siblings. Preparing a relaxed study environment for students, providing the family monetary or social support, and encouraging participation in social activities are recommendedto decreajb anxiety in students preparing for university exams.

Breastfeeding twins: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore the needs and difficulties of mothers who had multiple babies at Sakarya County by focusing on their breastfeeding experience. Ten mothers who gave birth to multiple infants participated in the study voluntarily. The framework method of data analysis was applied systematically both within and across cases, with categories and themes identified by reading transcripts of interviews. Major themes generated from focus narrative interviews are described. These themes are: willingness of mothers to breastfeed and continue, management of breastfeeding, use of pacifier, daily life, instructions of healthcare personnel, and advices from practice of experienced mothers. This study showed that women were aware of the importance of mother's milk for their babies. They all, somehow, made intensive efforts to breastfeed their twins. Women who expect and/or have multiple babies need much more support and guidance, which may include advice for nutritional and daily care.

Effects of body mass index on adolescents' social comparisons and body cathexis in Istanbul.

This descriptive-comparative study was carried out to examine the relationship between the distribution of body mass index (BMI) values and scores on the Social Comparison Scale (SCS) and the Body Cathexis Scale (BCS). The study was carried out among 373 randomly selected students who were currently studying at a government private high school (N = 208) or a public high school (N = 165) located in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey. The students' BMI percentile ranges were compared with scores on the BCS and SCS. Data from the study were evaluated statistically by percentages, means, t-tests, tests of analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Kruskall-Wallis test. The mean age (in years) of the participating adolescents was 16.1 +/- 0.8. In all, 61% of the participating students were male (N = 227), 45% were attending 10th grade (N = 169), and 56% (N = 208) were attending a government private high school. The great majority (92.5%) of the adolescents had a BMI between the 5th and 95th percentiles (5th to < 85th is normal; 85th to < 95th is overweight or at risk for obesity). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.93 for the BCS and 0.83 for the SCS. Judging from this study, social comparison and satisfaction with one's body are not related to BMI among Turkish adolescents. Also according to this study, female Turkish adolescents are more satisfied with their body image than are their male counterparts.