Fertility Preservation in Patients With Cancer: Nurses' Views, Experiences, and Perceptions of Benefits and Barriers.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate nurses' views, experiences, and perceptions of the benefits and barriers to fertility preservation (FP) care for patients with cancer. SAMPLE & SETTING: The sample consisted of 236 nurses who provided care before gonadotoxic treatment for people with cancer in three university hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey, from January to June 2018. METHODS & VARIABLES: The data were collected using a participant information form and the Oncology FP Survey. The main research variables were nurses' views, experiences, and perceptions of benefits and barriers to FP care. Data were evaluated using means, SDs, frequencies, and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Patients and their families were informed about FP most of the time. This information was given by physicians about half the time and by nurses less than one-fourth of the time. Mean scores on the Oncology FP Survey were moderate and indicated challenges among nurses in self-confidence, self-awareness of personal limitations, and perceived barriers when providing effective FP care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses face challenges in providing counseling about FP options for patients with cancer and their families. Increasing self-confidence, reducing personal limitations, and decreasing perceived barriers to FP care through appropriate training may improve nurses' ability to provide FP counseling.

Breastfeeding perceptions of first time mothers: A metaphor analysis.

Our purpose in the present study is to determine mothers' perceptions of breastfeeding through metaphors. This is qualitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study. The present study included 33 volunteer mothers who gave birth vaginally for the first time, received care in the postpartum service, and breastfed their babies at least 10 times. To reveal the metaphors related to the concept of breastfeeding, each mother was asked to complete the sentence "Breastfeeding is like… because…." The perceptions of the mothers about breastfeeding were gathered under three main themes: positive, negative and neutral metaphors. The identified metaphors were divided into five categories: indescribable emotion, peace, healing, task and inflicting pain. The mothers produced more positive metaphors about breastfeeding.

The effect of antenatal education on expectant mother's childbirth attitudes, maternal role attainment, and self-confidence levels.

We aim to determine the effect of antenatal education on the attitudes of expectant mothers toward birth, maternal role attainment and self-confidence levels. We carried out this quasi-experimental, non-randomized, prospective study in a hospital located in Istanbul, in the pre- and post-education model. Women in the education group (EG = 60) attended 6 weeks of education. Women in the control group (CG = 60) participated in a periodic follow-up visit. We collected the data using Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire (CAQ), Pharis Self-Confidence Scale (PSCS), and Semantic Differential Scale-Myself as Mother (MMS). We made three measures in total: in the first visit, after six weeks and in the sixth week postpartum. We found the mean scores of second measurement of CAQ, PSCS, third measurement of MMS statistically significant in favor of EG (p < 0.05). Antenatal educations positively affect childbirth attitude, maternal role attainment and self-confidence levels.

Does group education affect mothers' knowledge and attitudes towards the HPV vaccine?

In this study the authors' investigated the effect of group education on human papillomavirus (HPV) on level of knowledge and health beliefs for HPV infection and vaccine. The study was semi-experimental with a pre- and post-test education model. In total, 110 mothers of secondary school students, 55 in education group, and 55 in control group participated. The groups were educated on different content and three evaluations (pre-education, post-education, and six months following the education) were made. HPV knowledge and belief scores of the education group increased compared to pre-education and control group scores (p < 0.001). Perceived barriers to vaccination were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Group education increases awareness about HPV infection and vaccine.

Does Antenatal Education Affect Level Of Empathy And Attachment Of Fathers?

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the effects of antenatal education on the paternal bonding and empathic tendency levels of men who would become fathers for the first time. BACKGROUND: There are a limited number of studies in the literature that have investigated the effects of antenatal education programmes on fathers. METHODS: This prospective, controlled quasi-experimental study was conducted in a hospital in Istanbul. The men in the antenatal educational group (EG) and their wives participated in training in antenatal classes. The men in the control group (CG) came for routine prenatal follow-up examinations with their wives. The Empathic Tendency and Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scales were used to collect the data. RESULTS: The Empathic Tendency Scale was applied before the education (1) - after the education (2) and at the 6th postpartum week (3), whilst the Paternal Postnatal Attachment Scale was used at the 6th postpartum month (4). EG had higher emphatic tendency levels in the 2nd and 3rd measurements and higher paternal bonding levels in the 4th measurement in comparison to CG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Antenatal education increased the emphatic tendency of the fathers and the effects of this education continued in the postpartum period and affected paternal bonding positively.

The effect of vernix caseosa in preventing nipple problems among early postpartum women: A randomized-controlled single-blind clinical trial☆.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vernix caseosa, a natural substance similar to mother's milk with protective effects on the skin, might be effective in preventing nipple problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential efficacy of vernix caseosa compared to the conventional use of mother's milk in the prevention of postpartum nipple problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, controlled, single-blind experimental study involved 64 primipara mothers who underwent cesarean section and were randomly and equally divided between the vernix caseosa group and the mother's milk group. All mothers received nipple care four times daily during the first postpartum week. Data were collected using personal information and nipple monitoring forms. RESULTS: The incidence of nipple pain, rashes, and an abnormal appearance was similar in both groups on the first day postpartum (p = 0.132, p = 0.516, and p = 0.132, respectively), and none of the mothers had nipple cracks. On the seventh day, mothers in the vernix caseosa group had significantly less pain (p = 0.042), significantly reduced rash (p = 0.048), significantly higher satisfaction (p = 0.023), and no nipple cracks. CONCLUSION: Nipple care with vernix caseosa is more effective than with mother's milk in preventing postpartum nipple pain, rashes, and cracks.

Psychosocial predictors of the fear of childbirth in Turkish pregnant women.

INTRODUCTION: Fear of childbirth (FOC) affects women's emotional health, preparation for birth, and outcomes of birth. Identifying the predictors of FOC can aid in identifying strategies for reducing women's FOC. OBJECTIVE: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was aimed at determining the psychosocial predictors of FOC in pregnant women. METHODS: The participants were 624 nulliparous and multiparous pregnant women in their last trimester. Data were collected using a personal information form, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire A, Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors of FOC. RESULTS: FOC was high among this study's participants and severe for one fifth of them. The psychosocial variables predicting FOC were self-efficacy and trait anxiety level, and spousal support was found to be a mediator variable in the relationship between self-efficacy and FOC. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that psychosocial variables are key to predicting FOC.

An evaluation of the relationship between violence exposure status and personality characteristics among infertile women.

In this descriptive study, our aim was to examine the relationship between violence exposure status and personality characteristics among infertile women. The researchers collected data from 315 infertile women at an in vitro fertilization unit of the Woman and Child Disease Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. An introductory information form, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Abbreviated Form (EPQR-A), and the Infertile Women's Exposure to Violence Determination Scale (IWEVDS) were used as data collection tools. When the relationship between the IWEVDS and EPQR-A subdimension scores of the infertile women were examined, a positive relationship was found between the being-forced-into-traditional-practices subdimension of the IWEVDS and the neuroticism subdimension of the EPQR-A. In addition, a weak negative relationship was found between the being-forced-into-traditional-practices subdimension of the IWEVDS and the lying subdimension of the EPQR-A.