Investigating spiritual care perceptions and religious coping methods among the relatives of terminally ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey and around the world has had a profound impact on the families of terminally ill patients. In this challenging period, investigating the spiritual care perceptions and religious coping methods of patients' relatives is an essential step towards understanding the experiences in this process with the additional challenges brought by the pandemic and developing appropriate support services. This study aims to determine the spiritual care perceptions and the use of religious coping methods among the relatives of terminally ill patients in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The sample of this descriptive and correlational study consisted of the relatives of terminally ill patients (n = 147) who were receiving treatment in the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit of a state hospital in Turkey. Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale and the Religious Coping Scale to them using face-to-face interviews. Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 38.84 ± 11.19 years. Also, 63.3% of them were employed. The participant's total score on the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale was 57.16 ± 6.41, and it was determined that the participants' level of perception of spirituality and spiritual care concepts was close to good. When the Religious Coping Scale scores of the participants were examined, it was found that both Positive Religious Coping levels (23.11 ± 2.34) and Negative Religious Coping levels (9.48 ± 1.47) were close to high. There was no correlation between the scores of RCOPE and SSCRS (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: As a result, it was determined that the level of perception of spirituality and spiritual care concepts of the relatives of terminally ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic was close to sound, and their Positive Religious Coping levels were high. Epidemics are a reality of the world, and it is essential to learn lessons from this process and take precautions for the future. We offer a perspective to realize the coping power of religion and spirituality, which are integral parts of life. The needs of terminally ill patients' relatives, a sensitive group, become visible.

Death and COVID-19 Anxiety in Home-Quarantined Individuals Aged 65 and Over During the Pandemic.

Urgent measures were taken for those at the age of 65 and over who were at the risk group all over the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is known that many individuals at the age of 65 and over have experienced anxiety due to the uncertainties.This study aimed to determine the anxiety and death anxiety in individuals aged 65 and over who were isolation at home due to being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being in contact during the pandemic process.The study is descriptive and cross-sectional. It was performed with 656 home-quarantined individuals aged between 65-80 years with positive or negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result. A form including questions about the death anxiety and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form prepared by the researchers were administered to the individuals by phone call.Of the participants, 49.5% were male. Median COVID-19 anxiety score was 4 (0-18). Anxiety scores of the male and female participants were similar. Participants with negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results and those with death anxiety had higher COVID anxiety scores. Death anxiety has increased by 1.661 times in male gender, 1.983 times in RT-PCR positivity and 0.146 times in the presence of symptoms.Individuals with positive COVID-19 test results or those aged 65 and over who had death anxiety and negative COVID-19 test result but who were in home-isolation due to being a contact had higher anxiety score. For this reason, those with death anxiety can be supported in line with their religious beliefs to reduce anxiety.Those with negative PCR test results in quarantine can be adequately informed about the COVID-19.

Hope and perspective on death in patients with cancer.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between various attitudes and hope levels of cancer patients. The study was conducted in an observational and cross-sectional design with 106 cancer patients who were followed in the oncology clinic of a hospital. In the study, it was found that women had lower hope levels than men, and as age decreased, hope levels increased and as educational level increased, hope levels increased. It was found that the patients who said "I have fear/worry/anxiety and think about my family as they will be left behind" had lower total scores and subscale scores of hope. The results of the study showed that individuals with cancer had relatively higher hope levels. It was determined that the patients' thoughts about death affected their hope both directly and indirectly.

Is Prolotherapy Effective in the Treatment of Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head?

INTRODUCTION: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is one of the most common diseases, accompanied by varying degrees of functional limitation and reduced quality of life, especially in younger individuals. Various conservative and operative options are available for the treatment of this disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report a case with ANFH that occurred from long-time and uncontrolled glucocorticoid use. In the treatment of the case, we used prolotherapy injections, whose efficacy and reliability were proved in the treatment of other chronic musculoskeletal problems. After the sixth session of prolotherapy injections, the patient was able to do daily activities as the same as the previous physical and effort capacity. The WOMAC osteoarthritis index was decreased from 92 preinjections to 12; the Likert pain scale was decreased from 5 preinjections to 1 after the injections. CONCLUSIONS: We obtained successful outcomes in terms of patient satisfaction and clinical and radiological parameters with prolotherapy injections. Prolotherapy may be useful as an easily applicable and satisfying auxiliary method for the treatment of ANFH.

How intensive care nurses perceive good death.

This study was to determine the attitude of nurses regarding the concept of a good death and terminal phase was conducted to determine the effect on patient care. This is a descriptive and analytical study. The study was conducted with 102 nurses who worked at an intensive care unit and were willing to participate to the study. The mean Good Death Scale total score was 56.75 ± 8.90 and the Frommelt Scale score was 95.10 ± 8.53. In conclusion, our study results suggest that the attitudes of the nurses during care to moribund patients are moderate and, when appropriate care is given, they perceive the death as a positive experience.

Vaginal Candidiasis Infection Treated Using Apple Cider Vinegar: A Case Report.

A 32-y-old married woman was admitted with intense vaginal discharge with foul odor, itching, groin pain, and infertility for the past 5 y. Candida albicans was isolated from the culture of vaginal swab. The patient was diagnosed with chronic vaginal candida infection. She failed to respond to integrative medicine methods prescribed. Recovery was achieved with the application of apple cider vinegar. Alternative treatment methods can be employed in patients unresponsive to medical therapies. As being one of these methods, application of apple cider vinegar can cure vaginal candida infection.

The Scale on Community Care Perception (SCOPE) for nursing students: The reliability and validity.

AIM: The fact that a great majority of undergraduate nursing students do not prefer to work in the field of community health after graduation is an important issue in terms of community care. This study evaluated the validity and reliability of Turkish adaptation of the Scale on Community Care Perception (SCOPE) for nursing students. DESIGN: This study is a methodological study. METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. The sample of the study was composed of 601 undergraduate nursing students studying in a university located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. The data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form and "Scale on Community Care Perception for Nursing Students." RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The content validity index of the Turkish version of the scale was 0.91. The scale consisted of 28 items and 6 subscales and these 6 subscales accounted for 60.297% of the total variance. The Turkish adaptation of the SCOPE is demonstrated validity and reliability and can be used in measuring the community care perception of Turkish nursing students.

Sexuality and marital adjustment in women with hypertension in Turkey: how culture affects sex.

This study examined the relationship between sexual dysfunction and marital adjustment in women with hypertension and the effect of the cultures on the sexual problems of women. Mixed method was used in this study. The study was conducted as quantitative (in descriptive type) to examine sexual dysfunction and marital adjustment in women with hypertension and as qualitative to examine the effect of culture on the views of individuals on sexual problems. The study included 102 women who met inclusion criteria (who were on medication and had active sexual life for 1 year). Patient information form, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (Female), and Marital Adjustment Test (MAT) were used to collect the data. The mean age of the subjects was found to be 55.10 ± 9.13, the mean duration of hypertension diagnosis was 8.66 ± 6.43, and the mean time to start was 7.87 ± 6.30. The mean duration of marriage for the women with hypertension was 34.08 ± 12.507. There was a negative correlation between sexual orientation, orgasm and sexual satisfaction from the subscales of ASEX and the overall scale (p < 0.05). Accordingly, as the adaptation in marriage diminished, sexual problems increased in women. As a result of the study, it was determined that HT had a negative effect on sexual functioning problems and marital adjustment, but women accepted this situation because of their culture, "women do not have the right to sexuality" and naturally accept the absence of sexuality after a certain age.

Sexual Dysfunction in Married Women With Urinary Incontinence.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in descriptive and cross-sectional design in order to determine prevalence of urinary incontinence severity in women with urinary incontinence (UI), correlation between UI and sexual dysfunctionMaterials and Methods: The study had descriptive and cross-sectional design. In sample selection, four Family Health Centers areas were determined by lot and totally 384 women with UI were reached by making home visits in these regions. As data collection tool, severity index in female urinary incontinence determining UI condition and Female Sexual Function index determining sexual functioning were used. RESULTS: Average age of the women participating in the study was 37.3 ± 1.02. Mean body mass index of the women was 26.3 ± 5.41. It was determined that 22.1% of the women participating in the study had UI for 3-5 years and 15.1% had UI for six years and a longer time. It was determined that 53.9% of the women participating in study had mild incontinence, 40.6% had moderate incontinence, 3.6% had severe incontinence, and 1.8% had very severe incontinence. A significant correlation was found between severity index in female urinary incontinence (ISI) score and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score (p < 0.05). There was a positive and weak correlation between ISI scores and age, duration of marriage, and number of pregnancy of the women who participating in the study; and a positive and very weak correlation between ISI scores and body mass index and spontaneous abortion (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Almost half of women with UI were determined to have moderate and more severe urinary incontinence. A significant correlation was found between ISI and FSFI score.