Difficulties and obstacles experienced by intensive care unit nurses during the prevention and care of pressure injuries: A qualitative study.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the difficulties and obstacles experienced by nurses working in intensive care units during the prevention and care of pressure injuries (ulcers). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological study was designed, involving 13 nurses working in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Turkey. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings were reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies criteria. RESULTS: Through the data analysis, an overall theme "Prevention and Care of Pressure Injuries" and three main themes, namely "Obstacles Encountered", "Impacts on The Nurses", and "Needs and Recommendations" were identified. CONCLUSION: This study identified institution-related issues (lack of resources, managers' attitudes, etc.), as well as lack of knowledge and training prevent the effective management of pressure injuries in intensive care units. The development of pressure injuries emotionally and professionally affects nurses. The primary needs of nurses were found to be equipment and material support, personnel training, positive attitudes of institution managers, and the establishment of a wound care unit within the hospital. The following recommendations were made based on the obtained findings: practical training should be given to all intensive care unit teams based on the latest information, modern, practical, diverse, and sufficient amount of equipment for pressure injuries should be provided, personnel shortage should be eliminated, institution managers should exhibit solution-oriented attitudes toward nurses rather than accusatory approaches, and a wound care unit should be established within the hospital. This study was limited to the nurses working in the ICU of a state hospital in Turkey. Since the study was carried out in a single hospital and due to the personal characteristics of the participants, the findings cannot be generalized to all ICU nurses and healthcare institutions.

Religious attitude, spirituality and mental adjustment in Turkish geriatric oncology patients.

AIM: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between religious attitudes and spirituality levels of geriatric oncology patients and their psychological reactions to cancer. METHODS: The sample consisted of 261 geriatric oncology patients who were inpatients in oncology and hematology clinics of a university hospital. The research was conducted between 30 July 2020 and 26 January 2022. Data were collected using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale, the Ok-Religious Attitude (ORA) scale, and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being (FACIT-SP) scale. The effect of the ORA scale and FACIT-SP scale scores on the MAC scale were analyzed using path analysis. RESULTS: A positive relationship was found between Spiritual Well-Being and Fighting (ß = 0.028, p < 0.001) and Anxious Anticipation (ß = 0.024, p < 0.001); a negative relationship was found between Fatalism (ß = -0.023, p < 0.001), Helplessness/Hopelessness (ß = -0.04, p < 0.001) and Denial/Avoidance (ß = -0.026; p < 0.001). A positive relationship was found between Religious Attitude and Fighting Spirit (ß = 0.154, p = 0.009) and Anxious Anticipation (ß = 0.231, p < 0.001), while a negative relationship was found between Religious Attitude and Despair/Hopelessness (ß = -0.413, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients' religious attitudes and spiritual well-being levels affected their psychological reactions to cancer, increased their "fighting spirit" and their "anxious preoccupation" about the disease, and decreased their helplessness/hopelessness, fatalism, denial and avoidance.

Workplace violence, occupational commitment and intention among emergency room nurses: A mixed-methods study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the correlations between the violence experienced by emergency nurses in the work environment, their occupational commitment and their intention to resign. BACKGROUND: The emergency service, when compared with other hospital departments, is the unit where violence against healthcare workers is most common. DESIGN: A multi-method design was used. METHODS: The research was carried out between 15 January 2020 and 15 May 2021. The sample of the study consisted of 202 emergency service nurses. The first stage of the research was reserved for the validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the Perceptions of the Prevalence of Aggression Scale (POPAS). Quantitative data were collected using the POPAS, the Three-Component Model of Commitment Scale. A qualitative method was used to determine in-depth the causes and effects of the violence the nurses were exposed to and what they thought and felt about the factors affecting their commitment to the occupation and their intention to resign. The Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) were used for this paper. RESULTS: The fit index values of the POPAS, which were confirmed with 15 items and four subdimensions, were determined to be acceptable and highly reliable. It was determined that 96.5% of the nurses were exposed to verbal violence. Qualitative interviews with nurses revealed that the violence they were subjected to in the working environment affected the nurses physically, psychologically, socially and caused them to consider leaving their jobs. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing incidence of exposure to violent behaviours and verbal violence was found to decrease nurses' emotional commitment to their occupation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses' working conditions and work environments should be improved and their workload should be reduced in order to maximise their level of occupational commitment and prevent them from thinking about resigning.

Palliative care and spiritual care competency measurement among Turkish Nurses: A scale adaptation study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to conduct a Turkish validity and reliability study of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 354 nurses. In the first stage, the forward-backward translation method was used to develop the Turkish version of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale. The comprehensibility, purposefulness, cultural appropriateness, and discrimination of the scale items were evaluated with content validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to examine the construct validity of the scale. To evaluate the ability of the scale to give consistent results at different time intervals, the relationship between the scores obtained from the first and second applications was examined with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The reliability of the scale was evaluated with the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient and item-total score correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The content validity index of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale was found to be 0.98 after expert opinion was obtained. The goodness-of-fit values of the scale were χ2/sd: 3.125; GFI: 0.915; AGFI: 0.875; IFI: 0.926; TLI: 0.905; CFI: 0.925; RMSEA: 0.078; SRMR: 0.054. As a result of CFA, some items were removed from the scale, and a Turkish version of the scale consisting of 14 items and three sub-dimensions was developed. The reliability of the scale over time was evaluated with the test-retest method, and it was found that the inter-response agreement was very good (ICC: 0.981; p < 0.001). The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was 0.89 and the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the subscales ranged between 0.78 and 0.85. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: It was determined that the Turkish version of the Palliative Care Spiritual Care Competency Scale is a short, easy-to-understand, and psychometrically sound measurement tool that can be safely applied to Turkish nurses.

Nursing Students' Spiritual/Religious Coping Strategies Dealing With First Experience of Witnessing Death During Clinical Practices.

This study aims at determining spiritual/religious coping strategies of nursing students dealing with the first experience of witnessing death during clinical practices. One of the qualitative research approaches, a descriptive phenomenological study was designed. The study was carried out with 14 nursing students studying at a state university in Turkey. The students' first experiences of witnessing death were examined by the personal in-depth interviewing method. Data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. The following five main themes were identified by the analysis: Perception of death; Witnessing death for the first time; Coping with death experience; Needs and recommendations; Impact of spirituality and religion. The obtained findings were presented according to the COREQ criteria. The findings showed that witnessing death for the first time is a difficult experience that affects students in various ways and students prayed and performed their prayers frequently to cope with the death experience.

Effects of Nursing Care Provided to the Relatives of Palliative Care Patients on Caregivers' Spiritual Well-Being and Hope: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of nursing care, based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring, given to the relatives of palliative care patients on caregivers' spiritual well-being and hope. This research was planned as a randomized controlled trial and conducted among 60 patient relatives (intervention group: 30, control group: 30) taking care of their patients in five palliative care units in Turkey. Data were collected via the Introductory Information Form on Patient Relatives, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Although administered nursing care caused a significant difference in the Beck Hopelessness Scale scores of the intervention group (U= 235.5, p = 0.001); no change was measured in scores from the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (U=385.0, p = 0.336). The findings of the study evidenced that nursing care based on Theory of Human Caring diminished the hopelessness levels of patient relatives while causing no effect on their spiritual well-being.

The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Family Inventory of Needs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this methodological study was to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Family Inventory of Needs. METHODS: The universe of the study consisted of 300 family members of inpatients hospitalized in the palliative care units of four hospitals in northern Turkey between April 12, 2019 and December 30, 2019. The translation process was performed in multiple stages using the forward-backward translation model. The reliability of the Family Inventory of Needs was evaluated using the Cronbach α reliability coefficient and item-total score correlations. Exploratory factor analyses were applied to examine the factor structure of the scale and its construct validity. To test the time invariance of the scale, the relationships between the scores obtained from the first and second applications were examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of the Family Inventory of Needs was found to be 0.893. The items of the Family Inventory of Needs were found to explain 45.23% of the total variance in scores. The Turkish form of the scale consisted of the importance and fulfillment subdimensions, and had 19 items. The ICCs of the test-retest scores of the importance and fulfillment subdimensions of the Family Inventory of Needs were found to be, respectively, ICC = 1.000 and ICC = 0.730 with a positive, linear, and highly significant relationship between the scores. The item-total score correlation coefficients of the scale were found to vary between 0.920 and 0.908 in the importance subdimension, and between 0.930 and 0.922 in the fulfillment subdimension. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The Turkish version of the Family Inventory of Needs was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be safely used with the family members of Turkish inpatients.

Turkish validation of the family presence during resuscitation risk-benefit scale.

BACKGROUND: There are no validated tools to examine the risk and benefits of family presence and nurses' self-confidence during resuscitation in Turkey. AIM: This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the family presence risk- benefit scale and the family presence self-confidence scale in Turkish as well as its psychometric characteristics. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 427 nurses. The forward-backward translation method was used. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the factor structure and construct validity of the scales. In order to evaluate the time invariances of the scales, the relationship between the scores obtained from the first and second applications was examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO) value of the family presence risk-benefit scale was found to be 0.876 while the KMO value of the family presence self-confidence scale was found to be 0.927. Positive linear correlations with high levels of significance and respective values of 82.5% and 93.5% were found between the total scores of the family presence risk-benefit and family presence self-confidence scales and their retest scores. CONCLUSION: The Turkish versions of the family presence during resuscitation risk- benefit scale and the family presence self-confidence scale were found to be valid and reliable tools that could be used to determine the perceptions of nurses regarding the risks and benefits of family presence during resuscitation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Using the family presence risk-benefit and family presence self-confidence scales, both of which have been tested for validity and reliability in Turkish, the perceptions of intensive care nurses regarding the risks and benefits of family presence during resuscitation can be determined as well as their self-confidence on the subject, making the development of policies on the subject possible.

Loneliness, Social Support Level, Quality of Life and Symptom Management Among Turkish Oncology Patients.

This cross-sectional and correlational study was performed in order to determine the relationships between the perceived loneliness and social support levels of Turkish oncology patients, as well as their quality of life and symptom management. A total of 370 oncology inpatients participated in this study. Data were collected using, the FACT-G Quality of Life Scale, the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the UCLA-Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. A negative advanced significant relationship was found between the MSPSS total scores (r = -0.754, p < 0.01) and the UCLA-LS total scores. As the social support levels of the patients increased, their loneliness levels were seen to decrease and their quality of life was seen to increase. The patients were found to experience the symptoms of fatigue, worry, and feeling unwell more often as their loneliness levels increased and social support levels decreased.

Intensive Care Nurses' Experiences Related to Dying Patients: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe intensive care nurses' experiences of caring for dying patients. METHOD: This study was carried out between July 15, 2019, and September 15, 2019, in a university hospital's intensive care unit. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 14 intensive care nurses to describe their experiences related to patient deaths. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse and report the identified themes. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: (I) Emotions experienced the first time their patient passed away; (II) feelings and thoughts on impact of death; (III) difficulties encountered when providing care and (IV) coping methods with this situation. CONCLUSION: Despite the passage of time, nurses are unable to forget their death experiences when they first encountered. They oftentimes use ineffective methods of coping and were negatively affected physically and emotionally.

Quality of life and satisfaction affect individualized nursing care perceptions in intensive care.

This study was conducted as a cross-sectional and correlational study in order to determine the affects of quality of life and life satisfaction on individualized nursing care perceptions in intensive care patients. This study was conducted with the participation of 317 patients who were treated as inpatients in the adult intensive care units of two state hospitals between 15.02.2017-15.08.2017. The data were collected using the patient information form, SF-36 Quality of Life scale, Satisfaction with Life scale, ICS-A Patient Version and ICS-B Patient Version. The patients' mean total score of the ICS-A Patient Version was 3.5±0.7 while that of the ICS-B Patient Version 3.3±0.6, and that of the Satisfaction with Life scale was found to be 21.7±5.9. The scores of the ICS-A and ICS-B Patient Version as well as SF-36 Quality-of-Life Scale and Satisfaction with Life scalewere identified to differ depending on some sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. The individualized nursing care perceptions of the patients in the intensive care unit were found to be above moderate, and a relationship between quality of life, life satisfaction, and individualized care perceptions was found.

The association of job satisfaction and burnout with individualized care perceptions in nurses.

BACKGROUND: Individualized care is closely related to the fulfillment of nurses' ethical responsibilities regarding the provision of healthcare as well as having a strong foundation in the philosophy of nursing. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the association of job satisfaction and burnout with individualized care perceptions in nurses working at a university hospital located in the Central Black Sea region of northern Turkey. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional correlational survey design. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: The study was conducted between 15 February 2017 and 15 August 2017 with 419 nurses working at a public university hospital located in Samsun. Data were collected using an information form, the Individualized Care Scale-Nurse Version, the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman Correlation were used. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayis University Clinical Studies Board of Ethics. Oral informed consent was taken from the participants. FINDINGS: There was a significant positive relationship between the total Individualized Care Scale-A Nurse Version score and the General Satisfaction subscale score of the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale (r = 0.121, p < 0.05). The total Individualized Care Scale-A Nurse Version score increased as the General Satisfaction subscale score of the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale increased. There was a significant negative relationship between the total Individualized Care Scale-B Nurse Version score and the Desensitization (r = -0.143, p < 0.01) and Personal Achievement subscale scores of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (r = -0.182, p < 0.01). The Desensitization and Personal Achievement subscale scores of the Maslach Burnout Inventory increased as the total Individualized Care Scale-B Nurse Version score decreased. DISCUSSION: Factors associated with the individualized care perceptions of nurses, such as job satisfaction and burnout levels and factors related to personal life and worklife should be taken into consideration. Also in order to increase job satisfaction and motivation in nurses, personal preferences regarding the service they want to work at should be taken into account. CONCLUSION: Nurses with lower burnout and higher job satisfaction were found to have higher individualized care perceptions and to support the individuality of patients in care applications. It is important to consider work-related factors associated with individualized care perceptions, job satisfaction, and burnout in nurses.

PREVALENCE, ETIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS FOR FALLS IN NEUROLOGICAL PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN TURKEY.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of falls, their etiology and risk factors in neurological patients admitted to the hospital in northern Turkey. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. Data were collected by survey that identified socio-demographic and clinical features of the subjects, Hendrich II fall risk model and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Study results revealed approximately one-third of the study patients (33.1%) to have sustained falls before. Concerning the timing of falls, 24.9% of these incidents had occurred within the last year. The most common reason for falling was dizziness (14.3%). The mean score on the Hendrich II fall risk model was 2.7±0.1 for those who had fallen and 2.3±0.1 for those who had not fallen. The respective mean BBS score was 20.7±1.9 and 18.4±1.3. It was found that approximately one-third of neurological patients had fallen before and had restricted their activities due to fear of falls; the great majority of them had a chronic disease and permanently used medicines; and the most important risk factors for falls were advanced age, fear of falls and impaired balance.

Ethical sensitivity, burnout, and job satisfaction in emergency nurses.

BACKGROUND: Rising levels of burnout and decreasing job satisfaction can inhibit healthcare professionals from providing high-quality care due to a corresponding decrease in their ethical sensitivity. AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of ethical sensitivity in emergency service nurses and their levels of burnout and job satisfaction. RESEARCH DESIGN: This research employed a descriptive and cross-sectional design. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: This study was conducted with a sample of 236 nurses, all of whom worked in emergency service between 24 July 2015 and 28 April 2016. Data were collected using the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Review Board of Ondokuz Mayis University. FINDINGS: There was a weak and negative correlation (r = -0.158, p = 0.015) between Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory scores. There was also a weak and negative correlation (r = -0.335, p < 0.001) between the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale scores. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Decreased job satisfaction and increased burnout levels among emergency service nurses might result in them indulging in improper practices, frequently facing ethical problems, and a decrease in the overall quality of service in hospitals. In order for emergency service nurses to recognize ethical problems and make the most accurate decisions, a high level of ethical sensitivity is critical. In this respect, it is suggested that continuing education after graduation and training programs should be organized.

DETERMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DAILY LIFE ACTIVITIES AND SELF-CARE CAPACITY ON DEPRESSION OF THE ELDERLY IN NORTHERN TURKEY.

This study aimed to determine the effects of daily living activities and self-care capacity on depression of the elderly in northern Turkey. The study was conducted with participation of 451 voluntary elderly individuals. Data were collected via a questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale, Exercise of Self-care Agency Scale, Daily Activities Index, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Index. The mean Exercise of Self-care Agency Scale score and Geriatric Depression Scale score was 91.44±16.32 and 11.87±5.01, respectively. Negative and highly statistically significant correlations (p=0.000) were found between depression scores and self-care capacity scores (r=-0.470), daily activities scores (r=-0.351), and Instrumental Activity of Daily Life scores (r=-0.270). Study results showed that depression scores of the elderly increased as their daily life activities and self-care capacity scores decreased.

Identification of factors which affect the tendency towards and attitudes of emergency unit nurses to make medical errors.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine individual and professional factors affecting the tendency of emergency unit nurses to make medical errors and their attitudes towards these errors in Turkey. BACKGROUND: Compared with other units, the emergency unit is an environment where there is an increased tendency for making medical errors due to its intensive and rapid pace, noise and complex and dynamic structure. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study was carried out from 25 July 2014-16 September 2015 with the participation of 284 nurses who volunteered to take part in the study. Data were gathered using the data collection survey for nurses, the Medical Error Tendency Scale and the Medical Error Attitude Scale. RESULTS: It was determined that 40.1% of the nurses previously witnessed medical errors, 19.4% made a medical error in the last year, 17.6% of medical errors were caused by medication errors where the wrong medication was administered in the wrong dose, and none of the nurses filled out a case report form about the medical errors they made. Regarding the factors that caused medical errors in the emergency unit, 91.2% of the nurses stated excessive workload as a cause; 85.1% stated an insufficient number of nurses; and 75.4% stated fatigue, exhaustion and burnout. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that nurses who loved their job were satisfied with their unit and who always worked during day shifts had a lower medical error tendency. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is suggested to consider the following actions: increase awareness about medical errors, organise training to reduce errors in medication administration, develop procedures and protocols specific to the emergency unit health care and create an environment which is not punitive wherein nurses can safely report medical errors.

Fear and Risk of Falling, Activities of Daily Living, and Quality of Life: Assessment When Older Adults Receive Emergency Department Care.

BACKGROUND: Falls tend to create fear and concern in older adults who also seek care in emergency departments (EDs) at high rates. AIM: The purposes of this study were to (a) describe risk and fear of falling in older adults seeking care in the ED and (b) explore relationships between risk and fear of falling with activities of daily living and quality of life. METHODS: The study was conducted in the ED of Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital in Samsun, Turkey. Data were collected for 7 months in 2013-2014. Adults aged 65 years and above who scored at least 20 on the Standardized Mini-Mental Test and who presented for care in the ED were eligible to take part. Patients self-reported demographic information and completed the Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale, the Morse Fall Scale, the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). RESULTS: A total of 151 older adults took part. Prevalence of falls was high (48.3%), as well as fear of falling (63.6%). Risk of falling (Morse Fall Scale scores) was negatively correlated with the ability to carry out activities of daily living (MBI scores; r = -.50, p < .001) and positively related to scores on the NHP (r = .45, p < .001); likewise, fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale scores) was negatively correlated with the ability to carry out activities of daily living (MBI scores; r = -.79, p < .001) and positively correlated with NHP scores (r = .64, p < .001). DISCUSSION: Older adults seeking care in the ED who have a higher risk of falling are more dependent in daily living activities and experience lower quality of life. Care seeking in the ED offers an opportunity to assess fall risk and fear of falling and provide guidance on prevention and management of falls in older adults.

Cervical Cancer, Human Papillomavirus, and Vaccination: Knowledge, Awareness, and Practices Among Turkish Hospital Nurses.

BACKGROUND: In cancer prevention programs, healthcare professionals are the main resource for ensuring community participation in cervical cancer screening as well as in enhancing individuals' knowledge and practices regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccines. AIM: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted to determine Turkish hospital nurses' knowledge, awareness, and practices in relation to cervical cancer, HPV, and HPV vaccination. METHODS: This study was conducted from February 1 to March 30, 2013. A total of 464 nurses working in a university hospital located in the central Black Sea region in northern Turkey participated. RESULTS: Among participating nurses, 13.8% of the nurses underwent cervical cancer screening and 11.6% received Pap smear tests. Reasons for not engaging in cervical cancer screening included lack of sexual activity, not considering themselves to be at risk, and shame (28.2%, 18.3%, and 16.8%, respectively). None of the nurses had received the HPV vaccine; reasons included not having sufficient knowledge about the vaccine and a belief that the vaccine was not very common (57.3% and 20.7%, respectively). Nearly half (44%) stated that they would not recommend the HPV vaccine to their patients because they did not believe they had sufficient knowledge about it (56%). DISCUSSION: Knowledge about HPV infection and HPV vaccines and willingness to be vaccinated were very low among Turkish hospital nurses. Effective education strategies are needed to improve knowledge needed to support patients to receive effective cervical cancer screening and preventive services.

The investigation of factors that influence self-care agency and daily life activities among the elderly in the northern region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the factors that influence self-care agency and daily life activities among the elderly in the northern region of Turkey. METHODS: This study of 372 elderly individuals was conducted between October 13, 2007, and January 25, 2008. The data obtained in this study was collected via a questionnaire and the Katz Basic Activities of Daily Living Scale and Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: Regression analysis performed to determine the effects of sociodemographic and clinical features on the self-care agency of the elderly revealed a statistically significant negative relationship. The multiple regression correlation coefficient of this model was R = 0.635, and the corrected R2 value was 0.23. This model determined the self-care agency score of the elderly participants as 23%. The model is statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The scores obtained in this study indicate that the majority of the elderly participants were independent; their levels of self-care agency were determined as falling within the middle level.

Technology-Based Health Promotion Training Among Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Stroke is a disease with a heavy social and familial care burden that can cause permanent brain damage, long-term disability, and/or death. This study aimed to determine the effect of technology-based health promotion training on the daily life activities, quality of life, and self-care of stroke patients. The study design was a Randomized Controlled Trial. The study sample included persons diagnosed with stroke diagnosed with stroke and were receiving inpatient treatment in the neurology clinic of a university hospital. The sample size was calculated as a total of 70 patients, 35 interventions and 35 controls. The intervention group patients received telephone-based education and follow-up grounded in Orem's Self-Care Theory over a 12-week period subsequent to their discharge. The educational content was divided into three distinct categories: self-care needs with regard to health deviations, developmental self-care needs, and universal self-care practices. Data were collected using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale, and the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale. The Independent Sample T-Test was used for intergroup comparisons, and the Dependent Sample T-Test was used for intragroup pre-test and post-test comparisons. Independent variables affecting the post-test scores, such as age and gender, were analyzed using the multiple linear regression model. The scale sub-dimension variables were compared using the multivariate analysis of variance test according to the groups. When compared with the control group patients after the training, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the intervention group patients' mean scores for the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (t = 11.136, p = .001) and the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale (t = 14.358, p = .000). Training interventions led to enhanced awareness and knowledge about stroke among the intervention group patients. They also fostered the development of healthier lifestyle behaviors and bolstered both self-care abilities and quality of life.