A Prospective Study on Activities of Daily Living, Comfort, Body Image, and Cardiac Symptoms in Coronary Artery Bypass Patients.

BACKGROUND: A coronary artery bypass graft procedure reduces mortality for cardiovascular patients, but those undergoing it often face negative body perception, loss of daily activities, and lingering symptoms, hindering full functional recovery and comfort. AIM: To compare the comfort level, activities of daily living, and body image based on certain characteristics of patients at baseline, (ii) Evaluate changes over time in levels of discomfort, activities of daily living, body image, and cardiac symptoms before and after CABG surgery within three months. METHOD: This descriptive prospective cohort study comprised 50 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery. The study examined cardiac symptoms, comfort levels, daily activities, and multidimensional body-self relationships as its outcomes. RESULTS: A Friedman test revealed that patients' body image, comfort levels, activities of daily living, and each heart symptom were significantly influenced by the time of day. According to this study, patients most frequently reported experiencing exhaustion, depression, and worry as cardiac symptoms. Only the comfort level exhibited a high correlation with each heart symptom, as indicated by Spearman's rho analysis. CONCLUSION: The body image, comfort level, activities of daily living, and cardiac symptoms of patients changed over time. Therefore, regular assessments of these symptoms during the pre- and post-operative periods could offer valuable insights into patients' needs. This information can be instrumental in developing interventions that address patients' well-being and may positively impact patient outcomes.

'Hearing silences': Exploring culturally safe transitional care: A qualitative study among Turkish-speaking migrant frail older adults.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the experiences and transitional care needs of Turkish frail older adults living in the UK and determine how this information can be utilized to improve the provision of culturally sensitive care during the transitional period. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive research with semi-structured individual interviews. METHODS: "The 'Silences' Framework guided the research design, from conceptualizing the research question to structuring the report of final outputs. For this study, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen older adults living with frailty and five family caregivers between January and May of 2023 in the United Kingdom. RESULTS: Major themes that were identified included: (i) information and communication, (ii) care and support, (iii) the role of culture and (iv) trust and satisfaction. Further analysis, through discussion and immersion in the data, revealed that care transition periods were presented alongside three phases of transitional care: pre-transition (during hospitalization), early-transition (the period between discharge and the 7th day after discharge) and late transition (the period between the 8th day and 12th month after discharge). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the communication and informational needs of frail older individuals change during the transition period. While Turkish older adults and family caregivers expressed satisfaction with healthcare services in the UK, many struggled due to a lack of knowledge on how to access them. IMPACT: The support of family caregivers is a crucial component in facilitating transitional care for frail older patients, as they help in accessing healthcare services and using technological devices or platforms. It should be noted that family caregivers often hold the same level of authority as their elderly Turkish counterparts. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

The prevalence of poor sleep quality and its association with the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome in diabetic patients treated with cyanoacrylate glue for varicose veins.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality and to describe its predictors in diabetic patients having chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins treated with cyanoacrylate glue. METHODS: This single-center, prospective cohort study was conducted between March 2018 and March 2021. A total of 103 patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic venous insufficiency (CEAP classification at stages C3-C6) treated with cyanoacrylate glue for varicose veins were recruited. A questionnaire form, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Berlin Questionnaire, and Diagnostic Criteria for Restless Legs Syndrome were used for data collection. A Doppler USG assessment was performed in the first clinical examination. RESULTS: Almost half of the participants had had diabetes mellitus for 10 years or more, and 52% had good glucose control. Among the study sample, 61% were poor sleepers, 47% of the participants were RLS positive, and 51% had a high risk of sleep apnea. RLS, HbA1c, and dressing at home had positive associations with poor sleep quality (p < 0.05) on the fifth day after the peripheral embolization. One month after the operation, participants had better sleep quality; however, there were no statistically significant differences between the assessments of RLS and the risk of OSA compared to the fifth day after the operation (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study showed that restless legs syndrome, a high level of HbA1c, and dressed injection area of the skin are associated with poor sleep quality in patients with diabetes having chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins treated with cyanoacrylate glue. Additionally, participants had better sleep quality 1 month after the peripheral embolization compared to the fifth day after the operation.

Transitional care of older ethnic minority patients: An integrative review.

AIMS: To critically synthesize the empirical literature on practice in transitional care and how to meet the care needs of older ethnic minority populations who discharged from hospital to community. DESIGN: An integrative literature review integrating empirical studies using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, EBSCO (including CINAHL and MEDLINE) and Scopus were searched for papers published between 2012 and September 2022. REVIEW METHODS: Full-text papers were screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria subsequent to screening titles and abstracts. All included papers were evaluated for methodological quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklists. After extracting findings, themes were created by critically examining and synthesizing of findings. RESULTS: The search yielded a total of 1180 studies, 1153 after removing duplicates and 27 papers meeting the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria were included in the review. The main findings were categorized into four themes: (i) intervention-related outcomes; (ii) unmet needs of older minority people; (iii) transitional care-related characteristics of older minority people and (iv) challenges for healthcare providers. Findings indicated that the transitional care experience of ethnic minority older populations differed from natives to some extent which revealed unmet needs addressing how to provide culturally appropriate transitional care for this population. CONCLUSION: This review gave insight into facilitators in the transitional care of ethnic minority older adults. Future transitional care interventions should incorporate needs of ethnic minority population. IMPACT: This review highlighted the defined gaps between existing transitional care programmes and transitional care needs of older ethnic minority. Increasing follow-up completion, evidence defining deeply of ethnic phenomenon in the transitional care process, developing interventions that meet transitional care needs and increasing healthcare providers' cultural competency were featured headlines. No Patient or Public Contribution.

Do peer-based short-form educational videos created by nursing students improve youths' knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases? A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remains high worldwide in today's society, especially among young people. Youth education on STDs could help to reduce the prevalence of the condition in society and prevent new cases. AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of peer-based short-form educational videos on youths' knowledge of STDs. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Turkey. The sample consisted of 121 students divided into experimental and control groups. Pre- and post-test control group quasi-experimental research design was employed in this study during the spring semester of the academic year 2021-2022. Peer-based short-form educational videos created by nursing students were used as an intervention. The survey form and Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire were used to collect data. RESULTS: Participants with parental responsibilities and had previous STD experience had higher knowledge score than the other subgroups. There was a significant main effect of peer-based short-form educational video on participants overall knowledge score of STDs. Additionally, the effect of intervention continued at 12-week follow-up measurement. CONCLUSION: Peer-based short-form educational videos increase young people's knowledge of STD, and the impact of the intervention continued at 12-week follow up.

How do male nursing students' voluntary activities affect their image in society?

AIM: To determine the effect of male nursing students' voluntary activities on their image in society. BACKGROUND: The role of voluntary nursing services in enhancing the visibility of nursing in society can also contribute to enhancing the image of male nurses in society. METHODS: This study employed a one-group, quasi-experimental pre-post analysis design. It was carried out between September 2020 and June 2021 in the pedestrian zone, which is one of the main streets of Bartin in Turkey. Using a convenience sampling approach, tradesmen aged 18 and over operating in commercial enterprises (n = 81) were asked to participate in the study. Information form and Nursing Image Scale were used to collect the research data. Results from the paired sample t test were utilized to analyse the study's data using the intervention of 'men nursing students' voluntary activities'. RESULTS: The total Nursing Image Scale score of the participants was statistically considerably greater after the intervention than the pre-intervention score. Based on the paired sample t test results, it was observed that the participants obtained higher scores after the intervention than before in the gender sub-dimension as well as all other sub-dimensions of the Nursing Image Scale, and these results were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of the study, volunteering by male nursing students improved both the profession of nursing and the perception of men in nursing in society. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING/HEALTH POLICY: This study suggested that male nursing students' voluntary activities could be one of the strategies to overcome the nursing shortage due to its enhancing effect on the profession of nursing and the perception of men in nursing in society.

The mediating role of health literacy on the relationship between health care system distrust and vaccine hesitancy during COVID-19 pandemic.

This study explores the mediating role of health literacy on the association between health care system distrust and vaccine hesitancy. An online survey including Personal Information Form, Health Care System Distrust Scale, Vaccine Hesitancy Scale, and Health Literacy Scale were applied to 620 participants. The degree of applying mask-wearing, hygiene rule and physical distance, and the level of COVID-19 vaccine literacy were modeled with hierarchical multiple regression analysis to have a deeper analysis of participants' actions towards COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. It was found that health care system distrust and health literacy were the most important variables that had an impact on vaccine hesitancy. Based on the mediation analysis, the total effect of health care system distrust on vaccine hesitancy was statistically significant. Participants who held a low level of health literacy and a high perception of the health care system distrust experienced more vaccine hesitancy. The findings suggested the health literacy mediated the relationship between health care system distrust and vaccine hesitancy. Health authorities need to consider the dynamic and complex factors around the health care system distrust and health literacy to reduce vaccine hesitancy during COVID-19.

Transitional 'hospital to home' care of older patients: healthcare professionals' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Transitional care is a key area of care provision to older people with chronic and complex health conditions and is associated with the quality of care delivered in the healthcare system. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the perspectives of healthcare providers, including nurses and physicians, regarding transitional care from hospital to home in an urban area of Turkey. METHODS: A qualitative study using a thematic analysis method was carried out. In-depth semi-structured interviews were held with eight clinical nurses and five general physicians involved in the provision of healthcare services to older patients in the transitional care process from hospital to home. FINDINGS: The thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 13 healthcare professionals led to the development of the following themes: 'uninterrupted chain of care transfer', 'commitment to meet patient's needs' and 'support and removing ambiguities'. CONCLUSIONS: Key factors impacting on the quality and safety of transitional care and continuity of healthcare are communication and collaboration between healthcare staff and settings, and older patients' as well as family caregivers' awareness and their feelings of responsibility towards the continuity of care at home.

Circadian Rhythms Characteristics of Nurses Providing Direct Patient Care: An Observational Study.

Background: In today's modern world, longer working hours, shift work, and working at night have become major causes of the disruption of our natural circadian rhythms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the type of shift work (rotating vs. fixed day), duty period (on-duty vs. off-duty), and working period within each shift (nighttime vs. daytime) on the circadian rhythm characteristics of nurses who provide direct patient care. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a purposive sampling method. Cosinor analysis was applied to analyze the actigraphy data of nurses providing direct patient care for seven consecutive days. The linear mixed effects model was then used to determine any variances between shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift for the nurses. Results: The mesor value did not differ according to nurses' shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift. The amplitude was statistically higher in on-duty nurses and in daytime working hours. The acrophase was significantly delayed in nighttime working hours. As well as nurses in rotating shift had experience. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the peak activity of nurses occurs significantly later at night while working and nurses working during nighttime hours may have a weaker or less distinct circadian rhythm. Thus, this study suggests that limits be placed on the number of rotating nighttime shifts for nurses.

The Relationship Between eHealth Literacy and Self-Efficacy Levels in Midwifery Students Receiving Distance Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic period, most university courses in Turkey have been taught via distance education. Beyond knowledge of digital technologies, self-efficacy is known to affect the learning motivation and learning goals of students. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between eHealth literacy and self-efficacy levels in midwifery students receiving distance education during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The research data were collected using a literature-based questionnaire developed by the researchers, the eHealth Literacy Scale for Adolescents, and the Online Technologies Self-Efficacy Scale. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0, with values of p < .05 considered to be significant. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic on a sample of 578 female midwifery students. Snowball sampling method was used for data collection using an online questionnaire. RESULTS: On the basis of the results, eHealth literacy and self-efficacy levels were relatively low in students who were 20 years old or below, who were in their first year, who were from low-income families, who spent less than an hour a day on the Internet, who had a low level of satisfaction with distance education, and who wanted to continue taking theoretical courses via distance education. In addition, self-efficacy related to online technologies was shown to be relatively low in students who found Internet services to be expensive, who had Internet connection problems, and who preferred asynchronous courses. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between eHealth literacy and self-efficacy levels for online education. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In the context of distance education, integrating the teaching/promotion of self-efficacy with regard to eHealth literacy and online technologies into midwifery education curriculum should better enable midwives to increase the quality of healthcare they provide and improve patient safety.