Sexual quality of life and marital adjustment in pregnant women.

In a cross-sectional study, researchers investigated pregnant women's quality of sexual life and marital adjustment. The sample consisted of 312 pregnant women admitted to the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic of State Hospital between June and November 2020. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Quality Scale-Female (SQLQ-F), and Marriage Adjustment Test (MAT). Participants with one child had a significantly higher median SQLQ-F score than those with three or more children. Participants with 8-12 wk of pregnancy had a significantly higher median SQLQ-F score than those with 25 wk of pregnancy or longer (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between SQLQ-F and MAT scores (r = 0.447. p < 0.001), suggesting that the higher the quality of sexual life, the better the marital adjustment. Health care professionals should be aware of the effect of sexual life on marital adjustment.

The effects of therapeutic touch and music on sleep quality, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life in menopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effects of therapeutic touch (TT) and music on sleep quality, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life in menopausal women. METHODS: This study was carried out in an experimental model with a pretest, a posttest, and a control group. The study was completed with a total of 108 menopausal women in the TT, music, and control groups. Data were collected using a Participant Information Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Menopause Rating Scale, and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Scale. TT was applied in the TT group once a week for 4 weeks, and the music group was asked to listen to music for 30 minutes before bedtime every day for 4 weeks. Posttest data were collected in all groups 4 weeks after the pretest. The χ 2 , analysis of covariance, post hoc tests, and partial η2 methods were used to analyze the collected data. RESULTS: When the effect of the pretest scores was adjusted, compared with the control group, there were statistically significant differences in the posttest scores of the participants in both the TT and music groups in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index dimensions of subjective sleep quality ( P < 0.001), sleep latency ( P ≤ 0.001), and sleep disturbances ( P < 0.05). When the effect of the pretest scores was adjusted, compared with the control group, there were statistically significant differences in the posttest scores of the participants in both the TT and music groups in the Menopause Rating Scale and Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Scale ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that TT and music increased sleep quality (subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbances) and quality of life and reduced menopausal symptoms.

The effect of web-based genital hygiene education provided to the women with disabilities on their self-care agency and genital hygiene behaviors: A randomized controlled trial.

In this study, we examined the effect of web-based genital hygiene education provided to women with orthopedically disability on self-care agency and genital hygiene behaviors. The research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial. 62 participants in the sample group were randomly assigned. There were statistically significant differences between the pretest, mid-test and post-test total mean scores of Self-Care Scale, Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale and all sub-dimensions in the expiremental group (p < 0.001) and there was not a significant difference in the control group (p > 0.05).

The effects of Reiki and back massage on women's pain and vital signs post-abdominal hysterectomy: A randomized controlled trial: The Effects of Reiki and Back Massage on Women's Pain and Vital Signs.

BACKGROUND: Using Reiki and back massage to support pharmacological treatments is increasingly common in nursing. This study aimed to determine the effects of Reiki and back massage on pain, analgesic use, and vital signs among women who had undergone an open abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: This experimental study involved a single, blinded, pretest-posttest design. The study population comprised women who had undergone an abdominal hysterectomy at the obstetrics clinics of Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital and Dicle University Hospital between July 2017 and February 2018. Patients were divided into three groups: a Reiki group, a back massage group, and a control group. Each group comprised 34 patients. Reiki or back massage was applied to patients in the respective non-control groups for 20 min once a day. Data were collected using a patient information form, the "Numeric Pain Rating Scale," and the "Vital Signs and Postoperative Analgesic Follow-up Form." RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in pain intensity and analgesic use were observed between the women in the Reiki group and the women in the back massage and control groups (p < 0.001). Significant differences in vital signs were observed between the groups before and after their respective procedures; in the Reiki group, they tended to decrease, while in the back massage and control groups, they tended to increase. CONCLUSION: This study's findings confirmed that pain, analgesic use, and vital signs decreased after Reiki among women who had undergone an abdominal hysterectomy.

Examining sexual functions of women before and after menopause in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Sexuality is an important factor that completes the lives of individuals and affects people in all age groups. OBJECTIVES: To examine the sexual functions of women before and after menopause. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Family Health Centers in Tunceli Turkey,\ between September 2014 and February 2015. The study data were obtained using a Questionnaire and the Female Sexual Function Index. The data were analyzed by number, percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and using binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean Female Sexual Function Index score of the women was 23.8±8.0. The Female Sexual Function Index score of 59.7% of women was below the cut-off score (26.55) and was accepted indicative of sexual dysfunction. Low educational level (P < 0.01), low income (P < 0.01), and menopausal status (P < 0.0001) of the women were risk factors for sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the women was very high and they indicated no effort to seek medical care. Low educational and income level and menopausal status of the women were three factors increasing the risk of sexual dysfunction. Awareness of the society and the healthcare professionals about the issue should be increased.

Impact of intolerance of uncertainty on psychological well-being in pregnant women with or without miscarriage risk.

PURPOSE: This study seeks to examine the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on the psychological well-being of pregnant women who have or do not have a risk of miscarriage. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was done as a case-control study. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Psychological Well-being Scale, and a participant description form were used for data collection purposes. FINDINGS: Psychological well-being decreased when uncertainty intolerance increased in pregnant women with or without a risk of miscarriage. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The professional support provided to pregnant women at risk of miscarriage contributes to the psychological well-being of the women.

The correlation between menopausal complaints and personality traits.

PURPOSE: Aim is to investigate the correlation between personality traits of menopausal women and their menopausal complaints. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional and correlation study was conducted with 400 menopausal Turkish women. FINDINGS: A positive correlation was determined between extroversion/introversion scores of Cervantes Personality Scale (CPS) and somatic and urogenital subscale scores of Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and between emotional instability/neuroticism scores of CPS and all subscale scores of MRS. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Considering the effect of personality traits on menopausal symptoms, affected groups can be identified in advance and menopausal complaints can be reduced by increasing support.

The relationship between the social support level perceived by patients with gynecologic cancer and mental adjustment to cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between the level of the social support perceived by patients with gynecologic cancer and their mental adjustment to cancer. METHODS: The present descriptive study enrolled women with gynecologic cancer receiving care in the Diyarbakir province of Turkey between November 2013 and October 2014. Data were obtained via the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support questionnaire and the scale of Mental Adjustment to Cancer. RESULTS: Among 190 women with gynecologic cancer, all subscales of perceived social support had a positive correlation with the subscale fighting spirit (r=0.34-0.56; P<0.001 for all), and a negative correlation with the subscales of helplessness/hopelessness (r=-0.25 to -0.48; P<0.001 for all) and fatalism (r=-0.20 to -0.30; P<0.01 for all) in the Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale. CONCLUSION: Among patients with gynecologic cancer, the response styles to cancer were considerably affected by the perceived level of social support. Raising the awareness of society and healthcare professionals will increase the level and quality of social support provided for patients with gynecologic cancer.

Social support and hopelessness in women undergoing infertility treatment in eastern Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the social support and hopelessness in women undergoing infertility treatment in eastern Turkey. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: For this descriptive design study, the sample was composed of 456 women. MEASURES: Beck's Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used. Percentile, correlation, unpaired t test, and one-way analysis of variance test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean BHS score was 6.97 ± 3.64, with a range of 0-19 while the mean MSPSS score was 61.98 ± 16.05 with a range of 12-84. A negative correlation (r = -.336, p = .000) was noted between MSPSS scores and BHS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Hopelessness levels in women negatively correlate with reported level of social support. Informing health professionals about these issues will be an important step toward improving the quality and levels of social support given to women undergoing infertility treatment.

Social support and postpartum depression in low-socioeconomic level postpartum women in Eastern Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article was to determine risk factors for postpartum depression in low-socioeconomic level women during the first postpartum year and to determine the relationship between postpartum depression symptoms and social support. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through administration of a questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Data were analyzed utilizing unpaired t test, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of perceived symptoms of postpartum depression was 21.0% (scores of ≥13) and there was a correlation (r = -0.36, p = 0.000) between MSPSS and EPDS scores. The mean EPDS score was 8.36 ± 5.6 while the mean MSPSS score was 64.49 ± 15.2. CONCLUSION: Postpartum depression symptoms are common among Turkish women. These findings provide important information about the role of social support related to postpartum depressive symptoms among Turkish women. Informing health professionals about these issues is an important step towards improving maternal and child health care services.

Urinary incontinence in hospital-based nurses working in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in quality of life due to urinary incontinence in female hospital-based nurses working in Turkey and whether professional help was sought by the nurses. Another aim was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence and its risk factors in working nurses. METHODS: Data were collected through administration of a questionnaire and the Incontinence Quality-of-Life Instrument. The data were analyzed via chi(2) test, t test, one-way analysis of variance, and binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 21.5%. Explanatory variables for developing urinary incontinence were age, parity, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Nurses with stress incontinence or urge incontinence had better quality of life than did those with mixed incontinence. CONCLUSION: In the present study, urinary incontinence was common in working nurses, and had a negative impact on their general quality of life.