Effectiveness of the aged simulation suit on undergraduate nursing students' attitudes and empathy toward older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of the aged simulation suit on undergraduate nursing students' attitudes and empathy toward older adults. BACKGROUND: A new approach to teaching to enhance nursing students' attitudes toward and empathy for older adults involves the use of an aging simulation suit. DESIGN: This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to determine the efficacy of the aged simulation suit on the attitudes and empathy of undergraduate nursing students toward older adults. This protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis was registered as CRD 42023393879 on the PROSPERO database. METHODS: In February-March 2023, a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled and quasi-experimental studies was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Population, Intervention, Control, Outcomes, Study Design (PICOS) structure was used for search strategy. Databases CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, as well as ULAKBIM, Turkish Medline, Turkiye Klinikleri, and YOK National Thesis Center, were searched for the articles. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools were used to evaluate the methodological quality of a study and the extent to which its design, conduct, and analysis addressed the possibility of bias. RESULTS: The meta-analyses of attitudes toward older adults included six studies (including 535 nursing students). The intervention group's attitudes toward older adults were found to be similar to those of the control group (SMD: 15.84, Z= 1.98, p= 0.05). The subgroup analyses revealed similarities between intervention group's and the control group's mean score on attitudes toward older adults (SMD: 4.85, Z=0.70, p=0.48, for RCT; SMD: 23.05, Z= 2.02, p=0.04, for quasi-experimental). Three studies (involving 207 nursing students) revealed significantly higher mean empathy score for the control group compared with the intervention group following the intervention (SMD: 7.08, Z=4.82, p=0.00001). The subgroup analyses revealed statistically significantly higher mean level of empathy for the control group compared with the intervention group was after the intervention (SMD: 7.49, Z=3.15, p=0.002, for RCT; SMD: 6.83, Z= 3.65, p=0.0003, for quasi-experimental). CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students should be aware of older adults' feelings and experiences aging-related changes and aged simulation interventions can be a useful intervention to allow students to empathize with an older adult.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Methods Used by Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study sought to determine complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods used by older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample for this descriptive study comprised 415 adults older than 65 years who completed an online questionnaire between August and October 2020. The study used descriptive statistical methods and a χ2 test for the statistical analysis of data. In the study, 55.4% of participants had used one or more CAM methods during the pandemic. The most frequently used methods were vitamin and mineral supplements (48.5%) and herbal products (37.2%). The study determined that 43.1% of participants did not inform their health care professionals of the method they had used. It is possible that the use of CAM methods by older adults during the pandemic and the decrease in the frequency of seeking care at health care institutions could complicate the management of health problems related to the use of CAMs.

Caregiving Self-Efficacy in Family Caregivers of People with Dementia: The Role of Knowledge of Dementia and Perceived Social Support.

PURPOSE: To examine the role of perceived social support and knowledge of dementia in family caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) regarding caregiving self-efficacy. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional, and predictive design was used. METHODS: The study was conducted with caregivers of PwD (n:102) between March and May 2022. Data was collected using the following forms: a socio-demographic characteristics form, the revised scale for caregiving self-efficacy (RSCSE), the dementia knowledge assessment scale (DKAS) and the revised form of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (RFMSPSS). Data was assessed through descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis. FINDINGS: The participants' RSCSE, DKAS and RFMSPSS mean scores were 1125.89 ± 417.18 (range:0-1800), 15.70 ± 6.06 (range:0-34), and 52.72 ± 20.07 (range:12-74), respectively. Analysis indicated that DKAS and RFMSPSS predicted positive caregiving self-efficacy scores but it was not statistically significant for DKAS (R2:0.209, F:13.077, p < 0.001). These variables accounted for 21% of total variance of caregiving self-efficacy. RFMSPSS predicted positively and statistically significantly (ß:0.461, p < 0.001) the total score of the self-efficacy scale. CONCLUSIONS: The perceived social support of caregivers of PwD is an important predictor of the self-efficacy level of caregivers. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: In order to enhance improving the quality of the caregiving process, caregivers should be strengthened, and caregiving self-efficacy should be comprehensively evaluated to enable assistance to the caregiver. The social support of caregivers is an important predictor of caregiving self-efficacy. Therefore, social support should be taken into consideration when engaging in appropriate initiatives.

The effect of COVID-19 on fear, anxiety, and sleep in nursing students.

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on fear, anxiety, and sleep in nursing students. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 1222 students in the 2019-2020 academic year who were members of the student nurses association. The data were collected online via Google Form between June and August 2020 using the student information form containing socio-demographic characteristics, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7) Scale, the fear of COVID-19 scale, and the Bergen Insomnia Scale. RESULTS: In our study, the mean score of the fear of COVID-19 scale of nursing students was 18.23 ± 6.31, and it was determined that 51.8% had sleep problems and 70.9% had anxiety (39.9% mild, 20.8% moderate, and 10.2% severe). In simple linear regression analysis, the fear of COVID-19 was found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with anxiety (ß: 0.383, p = 0.001), and the fear of COVID-19 (ß: 0.120, p = 0.001) and anxiety (ß: 0.346, p = 0.001) was found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with sleep. CONCLUSION: In our study, there is a relationship between nursing students' fear of COVID-19 and anxiety and sleep quality. Accordingly, it is recommended to train students in effective methods for coping with the fear of COVID-19, and to take initiatives to reduce related anxiety and sleep problems.

Telehealth applications used for self-efficacy levels of family caregivers for individuals with dementia: A systematic review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of telehealth applications for family caregivers of individuals with dementia remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate how telehealth-based interventions applied for family caregivers of individuals with dementia affect their self-efficacy levels, caregiving burden, stress, depression, and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a systematic review. Screening took place between April 30 and May 5, 2022, for the scope of the past 10 years (January 2012/May 2022). The related studies were screened over ten (10) databases and search engines both in English and Turkish, including CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science, ULAKBIM, Turkish Medline, Türkiye Klinikleri, and YOK National Thesis Center. Keywords included in various medical topic titles identified upon consultation with literature review experts from a library. Methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using Critical Appraisal Checklists developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute for experimental and quasi-experimental studies. The data were synthesized by meta-analysis. RESULTS: Two hundred and twelve (212) records were accessed in the databases. Of that, 12 studies (covering 1,013 caregivers) were selected for the meta-analysis. Statistically, the self-efficacy mean score was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group after the intervention (SMD: 1.08, Z= 3.12, p= 0.002). The effectiveness of telehealth-based applications for caregivers' caregiving burden, stress, depression and quality of life -- except for self-efficacy - was evaluated. The results of the intervention and control groups were similar after the intervention (SMD: -0.17, Z= 0.82, p= 0.41; MD: -0.60, Z= 0.49, p= 0.63, SMD: -0.04, Z= 0.13, p= 0.98; SMD: 0.15, Z= 0.47, p= 0.64, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that telehealth applications were effective in elevating the self-efficacy levels of caregivers of individuals with dementia. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of caregiving burden, stress, depression, or quality of life for caregivers.

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Readiness to Encounter Partner Abuse Patients Scale.

AIM: Partner abuse is a global public health issue with both short- and long-term health effects. Healthcare professionals frequently encounter patients who experience partner abuse and should be knowledgeable about how to respond to these individuals. The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of The Readiness to Encounter Partner Abuse Patients (READI) Scale. DESIGN: A descriptive, methodological and cross-sectional design was used. METHODS: Data were collected with a sociodemographics form and the READI-T Scale between 13 December 2021 and 5 January 2022. The study sample comprised nursing students (n = 323) at or over the age of 18 years and accepting to take part in the study. The linguistic and content validity and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess the validity of the scale. The reliability of the scale was achieved using Cronbach's alpha, item-total correlations and test-retest. RESULTS: The READI-T Scale had a content validity index of 0.99 and adequate sensitivity. The factor loadings ranged from 0.63 to 0.84 for the self-efficacy sub-dimension, from 0.82 to 0.91 for the emotional readiness sub-dimension, from 0.47 to 0.81 for the motivational readiness sub-dimension and from 0.28 to 0.64 for the partner abuse knowledge sub-dimension. The CFA showed that the model had a good fit (x2 /df = 1.792; GFI = 0.88; CFI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.050). Cronbach's alpha was found to be 0.92 for the scale. CONCLUSION: The READI-T Scale is a valid and reliable tool to determine whether Turkish nursing students are knowledgeable enough to encounter partner abuse patients. IMPACT: This scale can be used to determine the training needs of healthcare professionals on partner abuse and may be useful as a pre-and posttest to determine the effects of partner abuse education programs. Thus, this scale may also assist early identification of persons who have a risk for partner abuse.

Attitudes of oncology nurses regarding ageism.

PURPOSE: Ageism is reported to have negative impacts on older cancer patients' health and wellbeing. Nurses' attitudes to ageism influence the quality of care of older cancer patients and the prognosis of the disease. The aim of this descriptive and quantitative study was to determine oncology nurses' attitudes regarding ageism. METHODS: Data were collected online by using a sociodemographic and clinical features form developed in light of the literature and the Ageism Attitude Scale. The data collection tools were filled in by 237 oncology nurses between June and September in 2020. Obtained data were analyzed with mean, standard deviation, numbers, percentages, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: The mean score of the oncology nurses on the Ageism Attitude Scale was 87.76 ± 9.22 (ranging from 63 to 111), and their attitudes to old age were positive. The mean scores of the nurses on the subscales were as follows: 37.45 ± 4.69 for restricting life of the elder, 30.05 ± 5.27 for positive discrimination, and 20.30 ± 4.58 for negative discrimination. Also, 75.94% of the nurses experienced difficulty in offering care to older patients. The mean score of the nurses on the Ageism Attitude Scale significantly differed in terms of age, duration of work experience, staying with older people, and financial status (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the oncology nurses generally had positive attitudes to older people. Incorporation of geriatrics related topics into both undergraduate education and in-service training could help to maintain positive attitudes to older people and prevent unfavorable attitudes to them. It can also be recommended that attitudes of health professionals to ageism should be evaluated by older people in further studies.