A controversial issue in adolescents: Is the effect of digital games on creative personality traits positive or negative?

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of digital games on the creativity of adolescents. METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study using simple random sampling following the STROBE checklist. It was conducted with 384 adolescents between January and June 2022. Data were collected using the Digital Game Addiction Scale for Children and the Creative Personality Traits Scale. RESULTS: The adolescents were at risk for digital game addiction and had moderate creativity levels. The adolescents who had a male sex, had mothers who received primary education, started playing digital games before the age of 6 years, were using the internet for >5 h a day, had no activity other than playing digital games, and preferred action, adventure, and fighting games had higher digital game addiction levels than the other adolescents. In addition, the male adolescents had higher creativity levels than the female adolescents. There was a significant negative relationship between digital game addiction and creative personality traits among the adolescents. Digital game addiction had a negative effect on creativity. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents are at risk for digital game addiction and have moderate creativity levels. Digital game addiction negatively affects the development of creative personality traits. Interventions should be planned to prevent digital game addiction among adolescents, and adolescents should be guided to increase awareness of the effects of digital games on their creativity.

Effect of virtual reality-based seizure management education program for parents (VR-ESMEPP) on seizure management: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the efficacy of Virtual Reality-Based Seizure Management Education Program for Parents (VR-ESMEPP) that was designed to improve parents' knowledge-skill percentage about epileptic seizure, and motivation levels about educational material. METHODS: The study was conducted at a university hospital's pediatric neurology clinic in Turkey and involved both a VR-trained group and a control group. The parents' knowledge-skill percentage about epileptic seizure, and motivation levels about educational material were assessed before, after, and at 15 days after participating in VR-ESMEPP. RESULTS: The parents' knowledge-skill percentage about epileptic seizure increased in the group that participated in the VR-ESMEPP. There was no such increase in the control group. Examination of the scores of the Instructional Materials Motivation Survey (IMMS) for the parents showed that while there was a significant increase between the pre-test and post-test within the group that participated in the VR-ESMEPP, there was no significant difference in the scores of the control group. However, the high IMMS scores obtained by all parents indicate the motivating nature of the education material. SIGNIFICANCE: The study established the efficacy of VR-ESMEPP and demonstrated its ability to enhance parents' knowledge-skill percentage about epileptic seizure. Despite the absence of a difference in motivation levels between the groups, the high scores obtained by all participants indicate that the program was indeed motivating.

Management of Pediatric Convulsive Status Epilepticus From the Perspective of Emergency Nurses: A Cross-sectional, Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric convulsive status epilepticus is one of the most common neurologic emergencies and should be managed by health care professionals as soon as possible based on current guidelines. This study aimed to determine the nursing approaches and management of pediatric convulsive status epilepticus from the perspective of emergency nurses in Turkey. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted with 162 emergency nurses working in emergency departments in 35 different provinces in Turkey. The data were collected via an online form. Descriptive statistical methods were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Most emergency nurses (72.2%) attempted an intravenous access immediately to administer antiseizure medications during the stabilization phase. Approximately half the emergency nurses stated that rectal diazePAM was frequently administered in the initial therapy phase and intravenous diazePAM was administered in the second therapy phase. The emergency nurses had most difficulties attempting intravenous access, determining status epilepticus types, and calming the parents. DISCUSSION: As health care professionals and important members of the health team, emergency nurses have the responsibility to manage pediatric convulsive status epilepticus in the fastest and the most appropriate way based on current practice guidelines in emergency departments. When intravenous access is not available, nonintravenous benzodiazepines should be considered in the first-line treatment of pediatric convulsive status epilepticus, followed by immediate intravenous access.

Living With a New Kidney From the Perspective of Adolescent Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Mandala-Supported Qualitative Study Protocol.

OBJECTIVES: This study will guide health services by identifying the mental, physical, and social conditions associated with children's quality of life to better understand the experiences of pediatric kidney transplant recipients and help them lead better lives in adulthood. Encouragement to express their experiences with their own words and drawings can help to improve care practices and better understand their perspectives. Our aim was to determine the experiences and problems of pediatric kidney transplant recipients through Mandala art therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this study, we adopted a descriptive phenomenological design and thematic analysis approach based on the philosophy of Edmund Husserl. The sample will consist of kidney transplant recipients aged 12 to 18 years admitted to the pediatric nephrology polyclinic of a university hospital in southern Turkey. Data will be collected using a semi-structured interview form. We will conduct each interview and Mandala drawing activity face-to-face. The study has been approved by the ethics committee of the university. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This study, to our knowledge, is the first to focus on Mandala art therapy and the experiences of pediatric kidney transplant recipients and what it feels like to grow up with a new kidney. Our results will contribute to the literature and will help researchers understand what pediatric kidney transplant recipients are going through and what it means for them to live with a new kidney. Mandala art therapy can help pediatric kidney transplant recipients express their feelings and thoughts that they cannot otherwise express.

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the moral distress-appraisal scale for nurses.

Moral distress causes frustration, guilt, anger, stress, sadness, anxiety, fear, burnout, insecurity, and depression in nurses, and this is reflected in their work performances. Therefore, internationally validated tools and methodological studies are needed to measure moral distress among nurses. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Moral Distress-Appraisal Scale (MD-APPS) among nurses in Turkey. Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Moral Distress-Appraisal Scale (MD-APPS), which included internal consistency reliability and construct validity with factor analysis, were examined in a sample of 420 nurses working in different hospitals in Turkey completed the study between February and July 2022. The content validity index of the Turkish version of the MD-APPS based on expert opinions was 0.90. Through exploratory factor analysis for construct validity, a two-factor structure was obtained as in the original scale. The variance explained by these two factors was 56.67 %. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale was valid, while internal consistency coefficient and test-retest results demonstrated that the scale was reliable. The Turkish version of the MD-APPS is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating moral distress among nurses.

Validity and Reliability of the Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children with Epilepsy.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to adapt the Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children (SSES-C) into Turkish and then assess its validity and reliability in children with epilepsy. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 166 children (aged 9-17 years) with epilepsy who attended of Akdeniz University Hospital, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, and Bursa Dortcelik Children's Hospital Pediatric Neurology Clinics between July 2012 and March 2013. All research data were collected by a researcher in face-to-face interviews using Child Information Form, Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children and Children's Depression Scale. The Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children is a 15-item, 5-point Likert scale designed by Caplin et al. (2002). RESULTS: The linguistic adaptation and validation of the scale was conducted by seven experts. To evaluate the content validity of the scale, we elicited judgments from a panel of 10 content experts. The expert judgments showed that the correlation between the items on the scale was fairly good (Kendall's W=0.411, p<0.001, ki-kare: 57.495). Load factor of 40% and a large factor analysis included analysis of substances and two factors accounting for 49.67% of the total variance explained. We calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the internal consistency and the full-scale score showed good internal consistency (alpha 0.89). Within the context of reliability studies, it was found correlations varying between 0,98-0,74 for the two sub-factors of the scale. Test/retest correlation coefficients were significant (p<0,01) and high (r=0.99). In parallel forms reliability, the correlations between the Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children and Children's Depression Rating Scale were found to be negative, moderate and statistically significant (r=-0.58, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The measurements conducted on the Turkish version of the Seizure Self-Efficacy Scale for Children showed that it is consistent with the original scale, valid and reliable for Turkish society.

Complementary and alternative approaches used by parents of children with epilepsy on epilepsy management.

The aim of this study was to determine the complementary and alternative approaches used by parents of children with epilepsy on epilepsy management. This descriptive study included a total of 304 parents of children with epilepsy aged between 0 and 18years evaluated at the Pediatric Neurology Clinic of Akdeniz University Hospital in Turkey between January and May 2013. Data were collected by using a questionnaire developed by the researchers. It was determined that all the parents use complementary and alternative approaches for their children with epilepsy, and the most common approaches are praying (99.3%); keeping their children away from the effects of smoking (79.8%); feeding their children walnuts (79.6%), butter (59.2%), and bone marrow (58.6%); providing their children with good quality sleep (58.6%); and enabling their children to play games (51%). The approaches commonly applied during seizures include praying (96.2%), comforting their children in their arms and showing affection (55.6%), waiting for seizures to finish at home (45.7%), and laying children on their side (41.1%). Of parents, 98% stated that alternative approaches enable them to control their child's seizures, 100% said that alternative approaches have no adverse effect, and 98.4% stated that they will continue to use these approaches. The children's approaches to cope with epilepsy included looking after pets (72.7%), listening to music (70.1%), watching television (64.5%), playing games (55.3%), praying (51%), and spending time with friends (48.7%). Most of the approaches used by parents and children with epilepsy for the management of illness are determined to consist of complementary approaches that may contribute to management of epilepsy. Knowing the approaches of parents and children with epilepsy that could adversely affect disease management is important for educating parents and children to avoid these potentially harmful interventions.

Comparison of temporal artery to mercury and digital temperature measurement in pediatrics.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the temporal artery thermometer measurements with the mercury and digital axillary thermometer measurements in children. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Pediatric Emergency Department of Akdeniz University Hospital over a three-month period in Turkey. The sample for the study comprised 218 children (aged 0-18years). Three different methods were applied to each patient at the same time. After acquiring necessary institutional permission to conduct the study, the informed consent to participate was obtained from parents before the subjects were included in the study. The data were evaluated using general linear models. The differences between the groups were analyzed by Least Significant Difference method. RESULTS: The average temperature measured by temporal artery, mercury and digital thermometers were 38.9°C, 38.3°C and 38°C respectively. CONCLUSION: Temporal artery thermometer values might be considered as core temperature. Rectal temperature is about 2°F (1°C) higher than an axillary temperature. In our study the difference between the temperature measured values was found to be consistent with the range provided in the literature. Temporal artery thermometers are recommended especially pediatric emergency settings, where an accurate, quick and safe body temperature measurement is of vital importance.

Complementary and alternative medicine use in children with thalassaemia.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to: (1) determine the types of complementary and alternative medicine use among children with thalassaemia as reported by parents and (2) describe sociodemographic and medical factors associated with the use of such treatments in families residing in southern Turkey. BACKGROUND: Thalassaemia is one of the most common human genetic diseases. Despite the therapeutic efforts, patients will encounter a variety of physical and psychological problems. Therefore, the use of complementary and alternative medicines among children thalassaemia is becoming increasingly popular. DESIGN: This is a descriptive study of complementary and alternative medicine. METHODS: This study was conducted in the Hematology Outpatient Clinic at Akdeniz University Hospital and in the Thalassemia Centre at Ministry of Health Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey, between January 2010-December 2010. Parents of 97 paediatric patients, among 125 parents who applied to the haematology outpatient clinic and thalassaemia centre between these dates, agreed to take part in the study with whom contact could be made were included. Data were collected by using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The proportion of parents who reported using one or more of the complementary and alternative medicine methods was 82·5%. Of these parents, 61·8% were using prayer/spiritual practice, 47·4% were using nutritional supplements and 35·1% were using animal materials. CONCLUSION: It was determined that a significant portion of the parents using complementary and alternative medicine use it to treat their children's health problems, they were informed about complementary and alternative medicine by their paediatricians and family elders, and they have discussed the use of complementary and alternative medicine with healthcare professionals. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To sustain medical treatment and prognosis of thalassaemia, it is important for nurses to consult with their patients and parents regarding the use and potential risks of some complementary and alternative medicine.

Immunity against diphtheria among children and adults in Izmir, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate diphtheria immunity in a sample of the Turkish population having high childhood immunization coverage, including a booster dose of diphtheria toxoid at 12-15 years of age. A total of 599 persons aged 1-70 years were selected with cluster sampling. The information on socio-demographic characteristics, vaccination status and diphtheria history was gathered for each participant. Diphtheria antitoxin levels were measured qualitatively by using micro-enzyme immune assay. Of studied population, 72.3% had fully protective antitoxin levels (≥ 0.1 IU/ml). The rate of protection was 92.5% in the children aged 0-2 years, 93.2% in the primary school children aged 7-9 years, and 86.0% in the adolescents aged 15-19 years. After 20 years of age, diphtheria protection rates showed a significant age-related decrease, reaching minimum in the 30-39 age group, in which 47.3% of these subjects had fully protective antitoxin levels. The diphtheria antitoxin geometric mean titer (GMT) was highest in the 0-2 year age group (1.18 IU/ml). In the adolescents aged 15-19 years, diphtheria antitoxin GMT was 0.71 IU/ml. Then, geometric mean titer decreased with increasing age, and reached the minimum level in the 40-59 years age group (0.18 IU/ml). The protection rate among females was significantly lower than males (67.1% vs. 80.9%). The difference was apparent in the 20-29 and the 30-39 years age group: 80% of the males and 46.2% of the females in the 20-29 years age group, and 60% of males and 44.1% of females in the 30-39 years age group were fully protected against diphtheria (p<0.0001). These results suggest that in Izmir, Turkey, full serological protection against diphtheria is only detectable in <50% of the young adult population, even though childhood immunization coverage is relatively high. Potentially, there is still risk of diphtheria outbreaks among the adults in our country. Therefore, a revaccination of adults with reduced doses of diphtheria toxoid should be considered to sustain diphtheria immunity.

Semiologic seizure classification: the effectiveness of a modular education program for health professionals in pediatrics.

We tested the effectiveness of a modular education program on Semiologic Seizure Classification (SSC) in helping health professionals in pediatrics correctly recognize seizures in childhood. The study samples included 20 residents, 20 nurses, and 10 EEG technicians working in pediatrics. The study was conducted in two steps. First, a modular education program comprising CD-ROMs including 58 video clips of epileptic seizures designed for the original SSC was developed. Second, each participant took a pretest by viewing the pretest CD-ROM, participated in the modular education program with a CD-ROM, and finally took a posttest with the posttest CD-ROM. The pretest scores were found to be low in each subgroup of the study population: the average scores were 8 for the residents (minimum 4-maximum 10), 2 for the nurses (min 0-max 4), and 2.5 for the EEG technicians (min 0-max 8). After participating in the modular education program, correct recognition of seizures increased in the posttest: the average scores were 15.5 for the residents (min 9-max 20), 15 for the nurses (min 13-max 20), and 13.5 for the EEG technicians (min 3-max 19). The increase in the scores in the subgroups and in all study groups in general was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). The modular education program developed for SSC was found to be highly effective in teaching health professionals working in general pediatric clinics to correctly recognize seizure types.

[Pediatricians' and pediatric nurses' knowledge about pain in newborn infants and their practices in some provinces in Turkey]. / Türkiye'de bazi illerde çocuk servislerinde çalisan çocuk hekimi ve hemsirelerin yenidoganlarda agri konusundaki bilgi ve uygulamalari.

This research was conducted as a descriptive study for the purpose of determining the status of pediatricians and nurses who work on pediatric wards about their recognizing, evaluating, and using appropriate nonpharmacologic interventions to treat pain in newborn infants. The study was conducted between March and May 2005. A total of 198 nurses and physicians were included in the sample, 31 of whom were from Sivas 1st Izzettin Keykavus State Hospital, 76 from Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Hospital, 45 from Mersin University Medical Faculty Research, Mersin State and Taurus State Hospitals and 46 from Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital. The data were collected using a 16-question survey form. Five of the survey questions were regarding the nurses' and physicians' sociodemographic characteristics and 11 contained questions directed at obtaining physicians and nurses' information about pain in newborns. The results of the research showed that the physicians and nurses were knowledgeable about newborn pain. It was determined that the pediatric nurses used nonpharmacologic methods during invasive procedures in the newborns but the physicians did not. In conclusion it is recommended that this issue receive more discussion in continuing education programs at hospitals for the purpose of encouraging nurses and physicians to use nonpharmacologic methods during invasive procedures that are done in newborns to facilitate a multidisciplinary team approach for pain management in newborn infants.