Assessment of Compassion Fatigue and Empathy Levels in Nurses During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Turkey's Case.

This study was conducted to determine the compassion fatigue level of nurses and to review several variables believed to be associated with it; in addition, an assessment is made of empathy levels in the same group. This is a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 on nurses working at a city hospital linked to the Turkish Ministry of Health. The study group consisted of 616 nurses. A Personal Information Form, the Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale (CF-SS), and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy were used to collect data. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Student's t-test, One-Way Analysis of Variance, and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were used for data analysis. The statistical significance value was accepted as p < 0.05. The study group consisted of 499 (81.0%) females and 117 (19.0%) males, and their ages ranged from 20 to 51, with a mean age of 29.2 ± 6.9 years. The scores obtained from the CF-SS ranged from 16 to 130, with a mean score of 70.96 ± 25.04. The level of compassion fatigue was found to be higher in participants with a low family income, those who work more than 40 h a week, those who chose their profession unwillingly, those who are not satisfied with their profession, and those with a history of contact with a COVID-19 patient (p < 0.05 for each group). There was a significant association between levels of compassion fatigue and empathy (r = 0.92; p = 0.220). The level of compassion fatigue was found to be moderate in the nurses observed. The factors affecting the level of compassion fatigue included gender, family income, reasons for choosing nursing as a profession, the number of patients given daily care by the nurses, satisfaction with their profession, and history of contact with a COVID-19 patient. More extensive studies focusing on the association between compassion fatigue and empathy in nurses are needed.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Different Training Techniques in the Development of Leopold's Maneuver Skills: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the outcomes of simulation- and video-based training for teaching nursing students Leopold's maneuver. Their self-efficacy and anxiety levels were also explored. METHOD: Data were collected among 121 participants [low-fidelity simulator group (LFSG) n = 43; video training group (VTG) n = 41; control group (CG) n = 37] using a Student Information Form, Leopold's Maneuver Skill Checklist, Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. The primary outcome measure was the participants' performance; the secondary outcome measures were their anxiety and self-efficacy levels and grade point averages. RESULTS: The LFSG and VTG participants performed Leopold's maneuvers better than the CG participants. A negative correlation between anxiety and self-efficacy in the LFSG and CGs was found, while there was a positive correlation between grade point average and self-efficacy in the VTG. CONCLUSIONS: Educational institutions with an insufficient number of instructors and laboratory infrastructure can use video-based training as an alternative to simulation-based education to reach more students.

Syrian refugee women's breastfeeding behaviors and use of contraceptive methods: a qualitative study.

While migration leads to massive changes in women's lives, it brings along reproductive health issues as well. Determining the issues experienced by migrant women on fertility, breastfeeding and use of contraceptive methods and providing recommended solutions are important for planning and quality of maternal and child health services to be provided to women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the breastfeeding behaviors and contraceptive use of Syrian refugee women who have given birth. The study was conducted at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a state hospital in Ankara, Turkey, in 2018-2019. The study used a phenomenological pattern as a qualitative research method. The sample of the study consisted of 15 married Syrian refugee women of reproductive age (from 18 to 49 years of age) who gave birth before. Data collected were grouped under five main themes as "initiation of breastfeeding," "maintenance of breastfeeding and traditional practices," "situations affecting the decision of introducing complementary feeding," "use and awareness of contraceptive method," and "having a child from individual and social perspectives." Our study determined that knowledge and use of contraceptive methods and breastfeeding by Syrian women are insufficient. It is important to overcome the barriers to access to safe motherhood, reproductive health and protective health services.

Experiences of nurses providing care to patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units: A qualitative study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the experiences of nurses providing care to intensive care unit patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Turkey. METHODS: The research employed the descriptive phenomenological approach. The interviews were analyzed with Colaizzi's seven-step method. RESULTS: The experiences of nurses providing care to COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit can be summarized under three themes. It was determined that all nurses experience physical, psychological, and social difficulties along with negative emotions during the care process for COVID-19 patients, for which nurses use coping processes. CONCLUSION: This study shows the difficulties faced by nurses who provide intensive care to patients with COVID-19. It is important to identify these challenges early to protect and improve the health of nurses.

Assessment of depression and sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of depression, review some variables that are believed to be associated and assess the relationships between depression and sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women. DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on postmenopausal women in Ankara, Turkey from February to June 2020. The study group consisted of 242 postmenopausal women. The Beck Depression Inventory and Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to assess the level of depression and sex life, respectively. Online questionnaire forms (Google Form) prepared by using the literature in line with the study objective were completed by the women online. Independent t-test, analysis of variance, Tukey's test, and Pearson's correlation analysis were used for statistical analyses. Statistical significance was accepted as p ≤ 0.05. FINDINGS: The of women was found to be 52.64 (±6.245) years and the average menopause age was found to be 47.81 (±4.039) years in this study. The mean score obtained by the women from the Beck Depression Inventory was 13.04 (±7.82). It was determined that the women showed "mild depressive symptoms" mostly. As for the women's sexual quality of life, the mean score obtained from the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire was 61.32 (±14.70). A statistically significant and moderate negative correlation was detected between the mean scores obtained by the women from the Beck Depression Inventory and the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire (r = -0.305; p < 0.01). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It was determined in the study that sexual quality of life is affected by menopause negatively and the women had mild depressive symptoms. Depression among postmenopausal women is an important women's health problem that should be addressed. A negative correlation was found between depression and sexual quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment of menopause as well as activities for raising awareness among postmenopausal women will be effective in improving quality of life.

Innovation in measuring obese patients' blood pressure: measurement with conical wrapping technique.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP) is difficult in obese patients due to their upper arm shape and width. Errors made during BP measurement cause misdiagnosis or lead to wrong treatment. METHOD: The data of this methodological study were collected from 40 patients who were 18 years old or above, with a BMI above 25 kg/m2, and who were followed up with radial catheter arterial pressure in adult intensive care and postoperative care units between March and December 2020. RESULTS: In total 55% of the participants were male with a mean age of 63.9 years, mean height of 165.7 cm, mean weight of 85.2 kg and mean BMI of 31.0 ± 2.1 kg/m2. Intra-arterial BP (IABP) measurement values were found to be correlated with conical wrapping technique and cylindrical wrapping technique (P < 0.001). As a result, a statistically significance was found between conical SBP and intra-arterial SBP (r = 0.921; P < 0.05) and conical DBP and intra-arterial DBP (r = 0.902; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was determined that the SBP and DBP results of the conical wrapping technique were closer to the results obtained by IABP measurements. For this reason, it is more appropriate to measure BP with conical wrapping technique in clinically obese patients.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence in obese women and its effect on quality of life.

This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted to investigate the incidence of urinary incontinence in obese women and its effect on quality of life. The mean BMI of the obese women participating in the study was 37.34 ± 4.85 and 88.1% of them had urinary incontinence. The I-QOL score was 63 (min; max: 25; 108) in the women found to have urinary incontinence. According to the ICIQ-SF scores obtained, urinary incontinence was higher than the disturbing level.

Headache and distress during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of headache, review variables believed to be associated, and assess distress levels in pregnant women. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on pregnant women who presented to a Training and Research Hospital in Sakarya, Turkey from June 1, 2020 to December 1, 2020. The study group consisted of 600 pregnant women who agreed to take part in the study. Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Statistical significance level was accepted as P value of 0.05 or less. RESULTS: The ages of pregnant women ranged from 19 to 44 years with a mean age of 29.01 ± 5.27 years. Prevalence of headache during pregnancy was found to be 55.7% (n = 334). The number of pregnant women at of distress was found to be 144 (24.0%). There was no difference between women with and without headache and between severity of headache and prevalence of distress (P > 0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: Headache is an important health issue in pregnant women. There was no relationship between the presence and severity of headache and distress level.

Polyelectrolytes as Building Blocks for Next-Generation Membranes with Advanced Functionalities.

The global society is in a transition, where dealing with climate change and water scarcity are important challenges. More efficient separations of chemical species are essential to reduce energy consumption and to provide more reliable access to clean water. Here, membranes with advanced functionalities that go beyond standard separation properties can play a key role. This includes relevant functionalities, such as stimuli-responsiveness, fouling control, stability, specific selectivity, sustainability, and antimicrobial activity. Polyelectrolytes and their complexes are an especially promising system to provide advanced membrane functionalities. Here, we have reviewed recent work where advanced membrane properties stem directly from the material properties provided by polyelectrolytes. This work highlights the versatility of polyelectrolyte-based membrane modifications, where polyelectrolytes are not only applied as single layers, including brushes, but also as more complex polyelectrolyte multilayers on both porous membrane supports and dense membranes. Moreover, free-standing membranes can also be produced completely from aqueous polyelectrolyte solutions allowing much more sustainable approaches to membrane fabrication. The Review demonstrates the promise that polyelectrolytes and their complexes hold for next-generation membranes with advanced properties, while it also provides a clear outlook on the future of this promising field.

The effect of progressive muscle relaxation and nature sounds on blood pressure measurement skills, anxiety levels, and vital signs in nursing students.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and nature sounds (NS) on students' blood pressure measurement skills, anxiety levels, and vital signs. DESIGN AND METHODS: This randomized controlled study conducted at the nursing department of a university in February 2020. During skill training, one group was given PMR and one group was given PMR + NS. The routine teaching procedure was applied to the control group. FINDINGS: The PMR (37.80 ± 10.1) and PMR + NS (31.19 ± 6.15) groups had lower mean postintervention anxiety scores compared with the control group (40.86 ± 9.13). The PMR + NS group had higher mean postintervention knowledge test score than other. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: PMR + NS and PMR helped reduce nursing students' anxiety levels and pulse rates. PMR + NS helped increase their blood pressure knowledge test scores.

Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy On Arteriovenous Fistula Puncture Pain and the Level of State and Trait Anxiety in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing haemodialysis suffer from anxiety and pain due to the insertion of haemodialysis needles, estimated totally 320 times per year. AIMS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in order to determine the effect of lavender aromatherapy, performed through inhalation for five minutes three times a week, on pain and anxiety experienced by patients undergoing haemodialysis after needle insertion into a fistula. DESIGN: Patient information form, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were applied to patients in the intervention group at the first follow up (the first interview before aromatherapy administration). SETTINGS: The researcher completed the data collection forms by conducting face-to-face interview with the patients and applied lavender oil to all the patients in the intervention group at the last hour of every dialysis session. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: Totally three sessions were carried out as three times for one week in accordance with protocol of aromatherapy inhalation. METHODS: It took 5 minutes to complete each session. Olive oil was applied to the placebo group since it has no therapeutic value. At the end of the application, NRS and STAI were applied to the patients again. RESULTS: The use of lavander aromatherapy significantly reduced the scores of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) puncture-related pain, which was 6.24±1.24 in the first session, to 3.56±1.28 in the second session (p=0.002). It was found that scores of STAI obtained at the first follow-up) were higher in the intervention group than the placebo group but the difference between them was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The STAI mean scores of the patients in the intervention group after aromatherapy were 39.12±6.71 in the state anxiety subscale and30.04±1.39 in the trait anxiety subscale. All subscale scores of STAI decreased significantly in the intervention group in the second follow-up compared to the first follow-up (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lavender inhalation could be used as a safe, simple, and low-cost method in nursing care if it is proved to be effective in reducing anxiety and relieving pain after needle insertion into a fistula in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Health literacy and knowledge of antenatal care among pregnant women.

Health literacy has a direct impact on pregnancy from the perspectives of both the mother and the baby. This study aimed to determine the level of health literacy and assess the knowledge of antenatal care among pregnant women. From among all pregnant women who presented to the hospital's obstetric polyclinic during the study's timeline, the study group consisted of 460 women who agreed to take part (492 women were invited and a response rate of 93.5% was achieved). A questionnaire prepared based on the literature in line with the study's objectives was completed by the participants under supervision. The Turkish Health Literacy Scale (THLS-32) was used to assess health literacy. In order to determine the women's prenatal care knowledge levels, a total of 20 knowledge-testing statements prepared using the literature were applied, 14 of which were true and six of which were false. The internal consistency of antenatal information questions during pregnancy was made and the Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.77. It was determined that 33.9% of the participants had a sufficient level of health literacy. Health literacy was sufficient in young married women (19 years and less) in their first pregnancy and those who had regular reading habits, participated in healthcare activities and received postpartum care at a family health clinic (p < 0.05 for each). While the most accurately evaluated statement about antenatal care was 'It is normal to experience nausea/vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy', the least accurately evaluated statement was 'Over 35% of women incorrectly believed it was normal to gain 20 kg of weight during pregnancy'. It was found that pregnant women with sufficient health literacy had higher levels of knowledge about antenatal care (p < 0.05). In this study, it was determined that approximately two-thirds of the participants had insufficient health literacy and the women with insufficient health literacy had low levels of knowledge about antenatal care.

Depression, anxiety, and fear of death in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the frequency of depression in postmenopausal women, examine some variables that are thought to be related, and evaluate the relationships between postmenopausal depression, anxiety, and fear of death. METHODS: The study is a cross-sectional study conducted among postmenopausal women who applied to an Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic in Sakarya, Turkey, between March and September 2018. The study group consisted of 485 postmenopausal women. For statistical analysis, the chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation analysis were used. Values of P ≤ 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: The ages of the participants ranged between 35 and 78 years, and the average was 56.33 ±â€Š7.34 years. Being a widow or separated from one's partner (odds ratio [OR]: 3.478), alcohol consumption (OR: 11.772), any history of illness that required continuous medication (OR: 3.579), presence of any physical disability (OR: 2.242), history of any mental disorder with a physician's diagnosis (OR: 4.213), and number of living children 4 or more (OR: 4.174) were found to be important risk factors for postmenopausal depression. A moderate positive correlation was found between the depression scale and the scores obtained from the anxiety scale (r = 0.467; P = 0.001). No difference was found between participants with and without depression in terms of fear of death. CONCLUSION: Depression among postmenopausal women is an important health problem that needs to be studied further. No relation was found between depression and fear of death. These results will be beneficial for raising awareness about depression among postmenopausal women and conducting screening for early diagnosis.

Modification of Cation-Exchange Membranes with Polyelectrolyte Multilayers to Tune Ion Selectivity in Capacitive Deionization.

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a desalination technique that can be applied for the separation of target ions from water streams. For instance, mono- and divalent cation selectivities were studied by other research groups in the context of water softening. Another focus is on removing Na+ from recirculated irrigation water (IW) in greenhouses, aiming to maintain nutrients. This is important as an excess of Na+ has toxic effects on plant growth by decreasing the uptake of other nutrients. In this study, we investigated the selective separation of sodium (Na+) and magnesium (Mg2+) in MCDI using a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) on a standard grade cation-exchange membrane (Neosepta, CMX). Alternating layers of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) were coated on a CMX membrane (CMX-PEM) using the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The layer formation was examined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and static water contact angle measurements (SWA) for each layer. For each membrane, i.e., the CMX-PEM membrane, CMX membrane, and for a special-grade cation-exchange membrane (Neosepta, CIMS), the Na+/Mg2+ selectivity was investigated by performing MCDI experiments, and selectivity values of 2.8 ± 0.2, 0.5 ± 0.04, and 0.4 ± 0.1 were found, respectively, over up to 40 cycles. These selectivity values indicate flexible switching from a Mg2+-selective membrane to a Na+-selective membrane by straightforward modification with a PEM. We anticipate that our modular functionalization method may facilitate the further development of ion-selective membranes and electrodes.

The impact of high-fidelity simulation on knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making for the management of pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of high-fidelity simulation on nursing students' knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical decision-making in the management of pre-eclampsia, and to explore the students' views and learning experiences. METHODS: A mixed-methods design study was conducted on 107 third-year nursing students. The students were randomly assigned to the control group (n=54) or the experimental group (n=53). The students in the experimental group attended the simulation training using a high-fidelity simulator, while the students in the control group attended only the classical training on "the management of pre-eclampsia." RESULTS: Knowledge (P<0.001), critical thinking (P<0.05), and clinical decision-making (P<0.05) scores of students in the experimental group increased after the simulation. In the focus group interviews, five themes were identified: learning development; closing the gap between theory and practice; confident decision-making and self-confidence; professional preparation; and recommendations. CONCLUSION: High-fidelity simulation is efficacious for improving the management of pre-eclampsia among nursing students.

Obstetric simulation in undergraduate nursing education: An integrative review.

BACKGROUND: Simulation as an innovative teaching method is an effective form of pedagogical approach. A wealth of evidence shows that simulation in nursing education provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to improve learning outcomes. AIM: The aim of this review was to systematically appraise and synthesize evidence that examine the effects of obstetric simulation in an undergraduate nursing program. METHODS: Integrative review method guided this review. Four electronic databases were searched using "CINAHL (EBSCOhost)," "Science Direct," "OVID," and "WILEY" to identify original research published between 2008 and 2018. Search and MeSH terms included: obstetric, maternal, simulation, nursing, and student. RESULTS: Seventeen articles were included in this review. The results of content analysis revealed three essential themes: cognitive and psychomotor (knowledge-skills) skill, affective (self-confidence, anxiety, critical thinking-self-efficacy) skill, and students' views on obstetric simulation. In all of the studies, it was determined that the simulation method was a safe and effective teaching strategy. CONCLUSION: The use of obstetric simulation in an undergraduate nursing program has a positive effect on the level of self-confidence, anxiety, critical thinking-self-efficacy, psychomotor skills, and level of anxiety.

Comparison of breastfeeding self-efficacy and breastfeeding success of obese and normal-weight mothers in the early period.

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) of overweight and obese women is a risk factor for breast milk secretion. AIM: This study was conducted in a descriptive and comparative way in order to identify the relation between the breastfeeding success and self-efficacy of obese and non-obese mothers during postnatal period and to make a comparison between the obese and non-obese group. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 113 obese and 111 non-obese mothers that met the study criteria who were hospitalized at the postnatal service of Health Education and Research Hospital in Ankara, September 2014-February 2015. RESULT: The mean BMI of obese women prior to the pregnancy was 31.41±2.4 while it was 22.25±2.8 for the non-obese women. As the BSS scores increase among both the obese and non-obese mothers, the LATCH breastfeeding success score averages increase as well (p<0.05, r:0.613). CONCLUSION: In the light of the data of, to increase the breastfeeding success among obese mothers, it is suggested that the perception of self-efficacy is enhanced, and additional consultation is provided on breastfeeding starting from the antenatal period. The trainings given to mothers by the midwife and nurse are supported with home visits especially in the obese women in the postnatal period in order for them to breastfeeding.

Evaluation of urinary incontinence and quality of life in married women aged between 20 and 49 years (Sakarya, Turkey)

Background/aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence and to evaluate the relationship between urinary incontinence and quality of life in married women. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among married women aged 20-49 years living in the vicinity of the Çökekler Community Clinic (Family Health Center) in Sakarya, Turkey, from 1 November 2011 to 15 April 2012. The study group consisted of 1161 women. Results: The frequency of urinary incontinence was 71.5% (n = 830). Out of a total of 830 patients with symptoms of urinary incontinence, mixed was the most frequently determined type (60.4%), followed by urge (33.9%) and then stress urinary incontinence (5.8%). The mean scores obtained by women with urinary incontinence from the general health perceptions and social functioning domains of the SF-36 survey were lower (P < 0.05 for each domain). Conclusion: Urinary incontinence was found to be a common problem among women, and it affects quality of life adversely. Recurrent urinary tract infection and advancing age were the key risk factors in the development of urinary incontinence.

Perceptions of Turkish University Students about the Effects of Water Pipe Smoking on Health.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of the water pipe, also referred to as hookah, narghile, shisha or hubble-bubble, has increased tremendously during the past few decades. This study was conducted to determine student water pipe smoking status and perceptions about the effects of water pipe smoking on health in a state university in Ankara. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2014 and January 2015. The data were collected with a questionnaire and "The Scale of Perception about the Effects of Water Pipe Smoking on Health". The data obtained were evaluated in IBM SPSS (version 20.0) statistical package program in computer. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the analyses by checking homogeneity of variances and Student's t-test. Values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The total mean score obtained by young people who took part in the study was determined as (X_=65.20±1.25, min=33, max=75). Upon comparison of the total mean scores obtained by young people from the Scale of Perception about the effects of water pipe smoking on health and gender variable, the scores obtained by the females students were higher than those of the male students with a statistically significant difference (t=7.525, p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed between the total mean scores obtained by young people with cigarette and water pipe smoking status (for each, t=-3.731, p<0.05; t=-13.987, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, university students have wrong knowledge on the dangers of water pipe smoking. There was a high prevalence of using water pipes among university students. Gender significantly affected the perceptions about the effect of water pipe smoking on health in our sample.

Evaluation of premenstrual syndrome and quality of life in university students.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of premenstrual syndrome, review associated factors and evaluate quality of life in university students. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Sakarya University, Turkey, between October 25, 2012, and April 25, 2013. Premenstrual Syndrome Scale was used based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III and IV (revised) for the evaluation of premenstrual syndrome. Short Form-36 was used to evaluate quality of life. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The median age of the 1008 students in the study was 21 (range: 17-25). Frequency of premenstrual syndrome was found to be lower in overweight/obese students (p < 0.05). Average scores of students with PMS were lower in all domains of quality of life (p < 0.05 for each domain). CONCLUSION: As an important health problem among university students, premenstrual syndrome adversely affects quality of life.