Impact of Education Provided by Nurses on Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients Receiving Hepatitis C Virus Therapy.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of education provided by a nurse on quality of life, anxiety, and depression in patients receiving hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. The total number of patients receiving HCV treatment was 25 patients (18 females and 7 males). Organized patient lectures addressed transmission routes of HCV, effects of virus on the liver, interferon treatment, treatment complications and care, and psychosocial problems faced by patients with HCV and their families. Lectures were followed by interviews in small groups including 3-4 patients each and repeated 3 months after. Data were collected by patient surveys, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, and Short Form (SF)-36 Health Survey (SF-36). There were no significant differences between pre- and posteducation for the SF-36 domains, namely role physical, health perception, social functioning, role emotion, and mental health, whereas there were significant differences between pre- and posteducation for the SF-36 domains, namely physical function, bodily pain, and vitality. Pre-education depression and anxiety scores were higher than posteducation depression and anxiety scores. Specific educational programs provided by nurses improved patients' quality of life and decreased anxiety and depression in patients receiving HCV therapy. These findings support the importance of educational programs provided by nurses for HCV patients.

The Effect of a Training Program on Oral Health and Behavior Change in Asthma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic disease which is prevalent throughout the world. Physical problems such as deterioration in oral health, which may occur due to the triggering factors of asthma as well as the ineffective use of asthma medicine, seem to affect the daily lives of asthma patients. Therefore, it is important to protect oral health and promote positive behavior changes in asthma patients in order to achieve effective treatment and asthma control. AIMS: The present study aimed to determine the effects of a training program provided for asthma patients on oral health, inhaler use skills, and behavior change. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled experimental study. METHODS: A total of 124 asthma patients were included in the study. Of the patients, 62 were assigned to the experimental group and the other 62 were assigned to the control group. Data were collected using the patient identification form, the oral assessment guide, the inhaler use skill form, and the evaluation form for behavior change over time. The experimental group received training provided by the researchers on the first meeting and one month later. Written and visual training material were used. Both groups were subject to a final evaluation which was conducted 4 months after their first meeting. RESULTS: It was determined that the oral assessment guide scores (p<0.01) and inhaler use skills of the experimental group improved significantly after the training compared to the control group (p<0.01). In addition, it was observed that the number of patients in the experimental group who quit smoking (p<0.05), used their medicine (p<0.01) and brushed their teeth on a regular basis (p<0.01), and washed their mouth after inhaler use significantly increased in the experimental group after training compared to the control group (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the training provided for asthma patients improved oral health and promoted inhaler use skills and was partially effective in promoting positive asthma-related behavior change.