An online communication skills education program for midwifery students: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Communication and entrepreneurship skills, which have a very important place among the 21st century skills, are among the basic skills that a midwife should have. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of the Communication Skills Education Program on the communication and entrepreneurship skills of the midwifery students. DESIGN: This study was designed a quasi-experimental study. SETTINGS: Online. PARTICIPANTS: First grade Bachelor of Midwifery Science students (n = 117). METHODS: In this study, the Communication Skills Education Program was given to midwifery students. The Communication Skills Assessment Scale and University Students Entrepreneurship Scale were administered before the education program was implemented (pre-test), when the training program was completed (post-test), and six months after the education program was completed (post-test). Classified data were given in numbers and percentage distribution. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the variables. In order to test the significance of the difference between pre-test, post-test and follow-test the repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the participating students was 19.46 ± 1.74 (min. 18.0, max: 31.0) years. While 8.5 % of the students received training on communication previously, 7.7 % of the students received education on entrepreneurship previously. Statistically significant differences were determined between the scores the students obtained at the pre-test, post-test and follow-up test [F = 224.38, p = .00/F = 325.13, p = .00]. The Bonferroni test performed to find out from which tests the difference stemmed demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the mean scores obtained at all the tests. According to the analysis of the relationship between the mean scores the students obtained from the scales, there was a moderately significant positive correlation only between their pre-test mean scores. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we determined that the Communication Skills Education Program improved the students' communication and entrepreneurship skills.

The healing effect of topical tea tree oil on pressure ulcers in a rat model.

Objective: The effects of topical tea tree oil (TTO) on the healing of pressure ulcers (PUs) in an animal model was evaluated. Method: To induce PUs, ischaemia-reperfusion cycles were performed by the external application of magnetic plates, with an ischaemic period of eight hours and a reperfusion period of 16 hours. Male and female Wistar rats were divided into three equally sized groups (n=20): one group received topical glycerin twice daily, another group received topical 10% (volume/volume (v/v)) TTO in glycerin twice daily; and the remaining group was untreated. The animals were assessed after one, four, seven and 14 cycles of ischaemia-reperfusion by thermal camera imaging, and then euthanised and sampled to investigate the degree of inflammation, collagen synthesis and apoptosis in the PUs. Results: Although topical glycerin alone suppressed local inflammation and apoptosis, this suppressive effect was accentuated at all timepoints by the application of topical TTO + glycerin. Similarly, an increase in collagen synthesis was observed in the glycerin group and this was accentuated by TTO at all timepoints. Parallel to the histological findings, the local temperature had decreased significantly on days 4 and 7 for both treatment groups (glycerin and TTO+glycerin). Conclusion: In this study, treatment with 10% (v/v) TTO in glycerin effectively suppressed skin inflammation and apoptosis, while it increased collagen synthesis during PU formation.

Massage and heat application on labor pain and comfort: A quasi-randomized controlled experimental study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sacral massage and heat application on the perceptions of labor pain and comfort level in pregnant women. METHODS: This was a quasi-randomized controlled experimental study. The data were collected under three groups in 2016: the heat application group (HAG), the massage group (MG), and the control group (CG). Each group included 30 primiparous pregnant women (range of age: 17-35) whose cervix was dilated to 4-5 cm. At 4-5 cm, 6-7 cm, and 8-9 cm cervical dilation, sacral massage was applied to MG, and sacral heat application was applied to HAG. Each group received standard midwifery care during labor. The data were collected using the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ) and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The data were analyzed by using the Chi-square test, the Friedman test, Paired sample t-test, ANOVA, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test RESULTS: The mean pain score in HAG (4.56±0.67) during 4-5 cm of cervical dilation was significantly lower than those in MG (5.03±1.06) or CG (5.23±0.72) (p < 0.05). The mean pain scores in HAG (6.80±0.7) and MG (7.30±0.8) during 6-7 cm of cervical dilation were significantly lower than that in CG (7.70±0.5) (p < 0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean CCQ total scores (HAG: 31.06±3.46, CG: 27.66±3.85, p < 0.05), mean CCQ physical comfort scores (HAG: 13.16±1.89, CG: 11.03±1.80, p < 0.001), mean CCQ relief comfort level score (HAG: 11.23±1.43, CG: 10.00±2.01, p < 0.05) and mean CCQ transcendence comfort level scores (HAG: 19.83±2.37, CG: 17.66±2.15, p < 0.05) and both HAG and CG during 8-9 cm of cervical dilation. CONCLUSIONS: Heat application and massage can be used as a safe and effective midwifery intervention to reduce the perception of pain in pregnant women and provide comfort during labor.

The relationship between hopelessness level and complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Following the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, women may experience some emotions such as anxiety, uncertainty, andhopelessness, and these experiences may vary from person to person. Many patients, along with conventional treatments, can resort to traditional methods to support the treatment, prevent recurrence of cancer, cope with the side effects of the treatment, and strengthen physically and mentally. AIMS: The study was aimed at determining the relationship between hopelessness level and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods in women with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, 336 women with breast cancer who presented to the mammography unit were contacted. Among the CAM methods used, herbal treatment methods rank first. Of the reasons, women prefer these methods; "CAM provides psychological comfort" takes the first place. RESULTS: The mean scores obtained from the Beck Hopelessness Scale by the women who used and who did not use CAM were 5.45 ± 5.18 and 4.44 ± 4.10, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, women with breast cancer may attempt to use CAM due to hopelessness. Therefore, in the course of medical treatment of patients, CAM practices should be questioned, they should be provided counseling and if necessary, referred for psychological support.

Academic dishonesty among health science school students.

BACKGROUND: Academic dishonesty has become a serious problem at institutions of higher learning. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the frequency of academic dishonesty and what factors affect the tendency of dishonesty among Turkish health science school students? RESEARCH DESIGN: This descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to evaluate academic dishonesty among university nursing, midwifery, and dietetic students. Participants and research context: The study sample consisted of 499 health science students in Turkey. The tendency toward academic dishonesty was investigated using the Academic Dishonesty Tendency Scale. Ethical considerations: Institutional review board approved the study. Written permission was obtained from the researcher to use Turkish version of the Academic Dishonesty Tendency Scale. FINDINGS: Of all the students, 80.0% claimed to refer to Internet during homework preparation and 49.1% of students reported to cite the references at the end of article on some instances. Of the students, 56.1% claimed never to have cheated in the exams. It was found that academic dishonesty was partly low (1.80-2.59) in students. For students using a library while doing their homework, mean scores were significantly lower ( p < 0.05). There were also statistically significant difference between mean scores and student's year in school, student's perception of school success, and frequency of Internet use while doing homework ( p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: The tendency of academic dishonesty was lower among students who use Internet and library more frequently. These findings are consistent with previous studies. CONCLUSION: Measurements to take against academic dishonesty should be directed toward not only students but institutions and instructors as well.

Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises Accompanied by Music on Low Back Pain and Quality of Life During Pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Back pain is commonly experienced by pregnant women. Evidence suggests that progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) therapy, a complementary therapy widely used by pregnant women, may improve the physical and psychological outcomes of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PMR training accompanied by music on perceived pain and quality of life (QOL) in pregnant women with low back pain (LBP). METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial. The study was designed to examine the effects of PMR accompanied by music on pregnant women with LBP. In total, 66 pregnant women were assigned randomly to a PMR group or a control group (33 women in each). A personal information form was used as a data collection tool; a visual analog scale was used for measuring pain; and the Short Form-36 was used to evaluate QOL. RESULTS: The control and intervention groups were comparable at baseline. Significant differences were observed between the 2 groups after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention. The intervention group showed significant improvement in all QOL subscales after the intervention. The intervention group, but not the control group, showed significant improvement in perceived pain after the intervention. The intervention group experienced a greater decrease in perceived pain and improved QOL than the control group. DISCUSSION: Our findings show that PMR accompanied by music may be an effective therapy for improving pain and QOL in pregnant women with LBP. Large randomized studies are recommended to confirm these results.

Carotid angioplasty and stenting in carotid artery stenosis: neuroscience nursing implications.

Stenosis of the internal carotid artery due to atherosclerosis can cause embolic stroke or cerebral ischemia, both of which may result in significant morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. Although the endovascular technique with balloons and stents to relieve arterial (i.e., coronary) stenosis has allowed a nonsurgical approach to the management of atherosclerotic disease for many years, its use in carotid vessels has only recently gained popularity. In addition, improvements in endovascular access systems have extended the use of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS), especially since the advent of cerebral emboli protection devices. Nowadays, CAS is emerging as an intervention for high-risk surgical patients with high-grade carotid artery stenosis. Nursing care of these patients before, during, and after CAS is challenging. Patients and family need to be educated about the aim and consequences of the procedure and its complications. To care for these patients, the nurse must understand the techniques of CAS. The purpose of this article was briefly to review the etiology of stroke, the current treatments to relieve carotid stenosis, and the basic steps of CAS. The nursing management throughout the procedure, the patient preparation before the procedure, and most importantly, the postprocedure nursing care are discussed.

Impact of heparin locking frequency on preventing temporary dialysis catheter dysfunction in haemodialysis patients.

A prospective analysis was conducted comparing dysfunction attributable to catheter thrombosis in subjects who received a heparin catheter lock three times a week (n = 15) to those who received a heparin lock six times a week (n = 15) immediately after the insertion of a temporary haemodialysis catheter. Thrombus related catheter removal occurred in two patients in control but no patients in the experiment group. Heparin locking six times a week was found to be effective in prolonging the mean of the first day where difficulty was experienced in aspiration. It also prevented any possible difficulty in catheter flushing. Increased locking frequency prevents any thrombus accumulation within the temporary catheter, while it has limited but significant preventive effect on thrombus accumulated around the catheter.

Health promotion lifestyle and cancer screening behavior: a survey among academician women.

Breast self examination (BSE), screening mammography and Pap smear screening can significantly reduce mortality from breast and cervical cancer. In an effort to understand the factors that influence BSE, mammography, and Pap smear behavior of woman academicians, we here explored the relation between health promotion life-style and women's cancer screening practice. A total of 750 woman academicians working in a university were enrolled, 350 of them responding to the survey. The study instruments used were the Health Promotion Life-Style Profile (HPLP) scale and a questionnaire of demographic data. There was a significant relationship between age-group, marital status, presence of cancer in the family, history of cervical erosion and doing BSE, having mammography and a Pap smear. Additionally, both the general mean and nearly all domains of HPLP were significantly related to BSE, mammography, and Pap smear behavior. This study demonstrated strong relationships between breast and cervical cancer screening behavior and health promoting lifestyle in this subgroup of women, making an important contribution to understanding the factors influencing women's health behavior.

Comparison of mediterranean, Western and Japanese diets and some recommendations.

During the past thousands of years, food systems, and thus human diets, have been and are shaped by climate, terrain, seasons, location, culture, and technology. In this context, many types of diet patterns have emerged. Nowadays, numerous epidemiological studies are being conducted in many countries in order to find relationships between empirically identified dietary factors and the occurrence of illnesses. Today, some dietary patterns are described as healthy eating models while others are generally qualified as unhealthy.

Quality of life of oncology nurses.

The aim of the study was to determine the quality of life (QOL) of nursing staff working in oncology units in Turkey. The study was a descriptive study and included 89 oncology nurses from 12 different cities in Turkey who participated in the course "Basic Chemotherapy Courses for Oncology Nurses" in Izmir. This course was organized by Ege University Faculty of Medicine and the Turkish Ministry of Health. Quality of life was assessed with the Questionnaire for Socioeconomic Status and the World Health Organization QOL Scale (WOQOL-BREF). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including Student t tests, analysis of variance, and the Scheffe test for post hoc analysis. Mean scores for QOL were 14.52 for the physical health domain, 14.3 for the psychologic domain, 13.57 for the social relationships domain, and 11.78 for the environment domain. It has been concluded that providing care for patients with cancer has a negative impact on the QOL of oncology nurses.