Evaluation of thirst severity, death anxiety, and complementary and supportive therapy use as predictors of urinary incontinence-related quality of life in older adults.

PURPOSE: This correlational survey study aimed to evaluate thirst severity, death anxiety, and the use of complementary and supportive therapy as predictors of urinary incontinence-related quality of life in older adults. METHODS: The study included 368 participants aged 60 or older. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a participant information form, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), Visual Analog Scale for thirst severity, Death Anxiety Scale, a modified version of the Mini Mental State Examination, and questions about their use of complementary and supportive therapies. RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 70.5 ± 6.9 years (54.9% female). Mean ICIQ-SF score was significantly correlated with daytime frequency of urine leakage and thirst severity score. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that thirst severity was a significant predictor of urinary incontinence-related quality of life. Most of the older adults said they had never used complementary or supportive therapies for urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Thirst severity should be assessed in older adults with urinary incontinence in addition to other factors that may affect ICIQ-SF scores.

Determining the Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Attitudes Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Patients With Cancer.

Disease-related uncertainty and the factors associated with uncertainty in patients with cancer have not been adequately investigated. This study aimed to determine the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with cancer. This cross-sectional descriptive study included 351 patients treated in the oncology clinic of a university hospital. All participants completed the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire (HCAMQ) and the 12-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12). Most patients (84.3%) said that they had information about CAM, 39.7% reported obtaining this information from their social environment, 83.2% said that they believed that CAM methods are effective, and 76.0% reported not telling health care professionals about their CAM use. Mean IUS-12 and HCAMQ total scores were 46.53 ± 2.05 and 32.11 ± 2.32, respectively, and showed a weak negative correlation. The patients in our study showed high intolerance of uncertainty and a moderately positive attitude toward CAM, and most patients did not notify health care professionals of their CAM use. Therefore, we recommend assessing intolerance of uncertainty and CAM use in this patient group. By identifying patients experiencing uncertainty and seeking different treatment, nurses can support patients physiologically, psychologically, and socially, and can explain the effects of CAM use.

Feelings, Difficulties and Attitudes in relation to Fasting: A Qualitative Study on Spiritual Coping Among Turkish Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

This study aims to reveal the feelings, difficulties, attitudes, and spiritual coping status of Turkish patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus toward fasting during Ramadan. The sample of this descriptive qualitative study consists of 14 patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. We determined two main themes and relevant sub-themes. The first was "the feelings and difficulties experienced due to diabetes mellitus" with the sub-themes of "negative emotions" and "difficulties in fasting." The second theme was identified as "religious and spiritual coping" with the sub-themes of "believing the disease comes from God," "having difficulty in adhering to disease-specific practices while fasting," and "feeling that fasting facilitates coping and provides relief." In conclusion, it was determined that the patients continued to fast despite the difficulties and that fasting facilitated coping and provided relaxation.

Determining the relationship between spirituality and perceptions of care in nursing students: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Caring is a core value in nursing education and many of its features can be measured as specific behaviors. It is not clear how nurses' spirituality affects their caring behavior. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between spirituality and spiritual care and nursing students' perceptions of care. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of 467 students in the nursing department of a university in Northeastern Anatolia. Data were collected using a descriptive information form, the Care Assessment Report Evaluation Q-sort (CARE-Q), and the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS). Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, t-test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis H, Mann-Whitney U, correlation, and regression tests. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 21.14 ± 1.97 years, 55.0% were women, and 63.0% said that nursing was their preferred profession. Most of the students rated their knowledge of spirituality and spiritual care as adequate (17.6%) or partially adequate (48.0%). CARE-Q and SSCRS scores were significantly higher among female students who chose a career in nursing to help people, want to obtain their master's degree, and agreed that providing care is nurses' primary duty (p < 0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between CARE-Q and SSCRS scores (p < 0.001; r = 0.369). CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between CARE-Q and SSCRS scores (p < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To promote holistic care, nursing students should be provided training on spirituality and spiritual care, with emphasis on the role of nurses in care.

The effectiveness of a stimulation program on cognitive capacity among individuals older than 60.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a multistimulant home-based intervention program on cognitive function, anxiety, and depression among older adults with cognitive impairment. This research is quasi-experimental and was designed in an effort to increase the cognitive capacity of individuals above the age of 60 with reduced cognitive capacities. Each senior received a total of seven home visits, including intervention conversation, newspaper/ book reading, painting/handcraft activities, and physical exercise. The Mini Mental State Test scores of the participants statistically increased, whereas the Beck Anxiety and the Geriatric Depression Scale scores showed a decrease (p < .05) after the intervention. Findings demonstrate that the multistimulant approach to improve cognitive capacity among individuals older than 60 years was successful.