Social Participation of Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Turkey.

Social participation is important in terms of active aging and quality of life during old age. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the social participation of older adults in rural and urban areas in Turkey. Related factors were similarly identified. The sample comprised 1,224 people over the age of 60, with a mean of 69.78 ± 7.48 years. Among the participants, 61.4% live in urban areas. The data were collected in family health centers through face-to-face interview and the Interview Form, Social Participation Assessment Form, and Social Participation Dimension of the Turkish Version of the Aging Module of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Scale. The scores obtained from the social participation dimension of the scale among the elderly in urban areas were higher than those obtained among the elderly in rural areas (p = .002). In addition, older adults in the urban areas who talked on the phone several times a month (p = .025), went to concerts, theater/cinema, museum/exhibition, various visual/musical shows (p = .046), and engaged in gardening (p = .032) obtained higher scores in the social participation dimension than the other participants. Health care professionals should take an advocacy role in building relationships with policy makers and create suitable socialization opportunities for older adults in urban and rural areas.

Social participation is important in terms of active aging and quality of life during old age.This is the first study with a huge sample to compare the level of social participation of the elderly in rural and urban areas in Turkey.It provides information on the level of social participation of the elderly in a developing country.

Relationship between sexual quality of life and life satisfaction in women with urinary incontinence: A cross-sectional survey.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the sexual quality of life and life satisfaction in women with urinary incontinence. METHODS: This research is Correlational-descriptive research. Sample of the study consisted of 210 women with urinary incontinence. The data of the study were collected using "The Patient Information Form," "The Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire" and "The Satisfaction with Life Scale." In analyzing; Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal Wallis variance analysis were used. RESULTS: It has been found that educational status, income status, menopause status, and frequency of urinary incontinence affect the sexual quality of life. A statistically significant positive moderate linear relationship was found between the mean SWLS scores and the mean SQOL scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, it was found that the sexual quality of life increased as The Life Satisfaction Of Women With Urinary Incontinence Increased.

The effects of spiritual care intervention on spiritual well-being, loneliness, hope and life satisfaction of intensive care unit patients.

BACKGROUND: The intensive care unit is a place where patients try to cope with pain and question the meaning and purpose of life and spiritual needs emerge. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to examine the effects of spiritual care interventions on the spiritual well-being, loneliness, hope, and life satisfaction of patients treated in intensive care. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted in an intensive care unit as an interventional study with a randomized pre-test, post-test, and control group between September and December 2021. A total of 64 patients, 32 in the intervention group and 32 in the control group, were included in the sample. The patients in the intervention group received eight sessions (twice a week) of spiritual nursing interventions according to the Traditions-Reconciliation-Understandings-Searching-Teachers model in the intensive care unit, while the control group received routine nursing care. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 63.53 ± 4.10 years in the intervention group and 63.37 ± 3.18 years in the control group. Most of the participants in both the intervention (59.4 %) and control (68.7 %) groups were female. Following the intervention, the findings showed that the intervention had positive effects on patients' spiritual well-being (t = -10.382), loneliness (t = 13.635), hope (t = -10.440), and life satisfaction (t = -10.480) levels (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the spiritual care provided in the intensive care unit positively affected patients' spiritual well-being, hope, loneliness, and life satisfaction levels. It can be recommended that nurses working in intensive care develop a spiritually supportive environment by addressing the spiritual issues of patients and their relatives and using existing spiritual care services. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Intensive care nurses should provide an environment and nursing care that meet their patients' spiritual needs. Spiritual care can be given to improve spiritual well-being, hope, and life satisfaction levels and to alleviate loneliness in intensive care patients.

The Level of Fear Experienced by the Individuals and their Applications to Health Institutions during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

AIM: The study aims to investigate the effect of the level of fear experienced by individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic on their application to health institutions. METHOD: This descriptive study was conducted between July and September 2020 with the participants who met the inclusion criteria in Turkey. When the mean COVID-19 Fear Scale score was considered and the standard deviation values ​​were taken as 18.83 ± 6.01, the sample size was determined as 98 individuals, with 95% confidence level, 90% test power, and 0.331 effect size. With the snowball sampling method, the study was carried out with 577 people who filled out the Google form. The Personal Information Form and the COVID-19 Fear Scale were used as data collection tools. The data were analyzed with SPSS 20.0. Descriptive statistics, correlation, Mann-Whitney U (U), and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to analyze the data. Ethics committee approval was obtained prior to the study. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 32.06 ± 11.25 (min 18-max 71); 77.8% were female; 66% were university graduates, and 54.9% were single. The total mean score of the participants from the COVID-19 Fear Scale was determined as 16.84 ± 5.68 (min 7-max 34), which points to moderate level of fear. The COVID-19 Fear Scale scores of the female participants, the participants with high income, and those living with their families were found to be higher (p < 0.05). The COVID-19 Fear Scale scores were found to be higher in those who sleep less than 7 hours a day, who have a psychological disorder, who applied to health institutions during the coronavirus process, and who postponed their application to health institutions in an emergency due to the fear of infection (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It has been determined that during the coronavirus process, 21.5% of individuals attend in person to health institutions and 40.7% of individuals attend in person to health institutions in emergencies. It was found that the level of fear was higher in the participants who applied to health institutions during the pandemic. The participants who postponed their application to health institutions in emergencies due to the fear of infection were found to have higher levels of fear.

Perception of loneliness and life satisfaction in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic process.

This study was conducted to evaluate the perception of loneliness and life satisfaction among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic process. A descriptive-correlational study was carried out between July and October 2020. The study enrolled 216 individuals over the age of 65. A sociodemographic information form, the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly, and the Life Satisfaction Scale were used as data collection tools. Mann-Whitney U-tests, Kruskal-Wallis H-tests, and correlation analysis were used in the statistical processing of data. Ethics committee approval was obtained before the study started. It was found that 68.5% of the elderly in the study were female, their average age was 70.15 ± 5.48, 63.0% were married, the total average of the Loneliness Scale of the Elderly was at a moderate level (8.23 ± 4.90), and the total of the Life Satisfaction Scale at a low level (2.43 ± 1.10). Scores for the Loneliness Scale of the Elderly total and its emotional loneliness dimension were found to be significantly higher in the elderly who replied it was difficult to stay at home. It was found that the life satisfaction of the elderly who felt well, who did not feel partially lonely, who were satisfied with life, and who were not living alone was significantly higher (all P < 0.05). Isolation of the elderly under pandemic conditions affects their life satisfaction negatively. For the improvement of elderly health and life satisfaction, evaluation of the psychosocial determinants of health such as loneliness and life satisfaction is essential, and parallel to this evaluation, it is important for public health nurses to plan and implement appropriate interventions to reduce loneliness and increase life satisfaction.

Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Older Women With Urinary Incontinence Residing in Turkey: A Cross-sectional Survey.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and quality of life in older women with urinary incontinence. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Women ages 65 to 84 years with reported urinary incontinence and were receiving care in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic in Gynecology and Obstetrics Polyclinic, Medical Practice and Research Center, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. METHODS: Data were collected over a 3-month period during one-on-one interviews using the investigator-developed Personal Information Form to capture demographic data, and with questionnaires including the Incontinence-Quality of Life Instrument (I-QOL), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS: We approached 210 individuals, of which 140 were consented, enrolled, and completed the study. The mean age of participants was 70.3 ± 4.1 years. The mean sleep quality score measured with the PSQI was 9.6 ± 6.0, suggesting poor sleep quality, which affected 89.3% of the sample. The quality-of-life mean total score measured with the I-QOL was 67.8 ± 14.9, reflecting normal quality of life specific to urinary incontinence. However, quality of life was lower in the older age group, 75 to 84 years, who also reported at least one chronic condition, had not received treatment for urinary incontinence, and had irregular sleep patterns. CONCLUSIONS: We found a strong correlation between sleep quality and quality of life in older females with urinary incontinence, raising awareness of the need for health care providers to inquire about sleep and quality of life and provide treatment options to ameliorate these negative health outcomes.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of the Three-Component Health Care Management Program HEWCOT in Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.

This study was performed to evaluate effects of education, home visits, web, and phone counseling on chemotherapy symptoms and anxiety in patients with colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy. This pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental study was conducted in a chemotherapy unit of a hospital between February 2014 and October 2015. Due to dropouts from the study, was completed on 51 participants in the control group and 31 participants in the experimental group. The experimental group was offered a program that includes home visit, nursing education, web counseling, and tele-counseling (HEWCOT), developed by the researchers, to control symptoms and to reduce anxiety. The experimental group less frequently experienced constipation, pain, pricking and numbness in hands and feet, skin and nail problems, ocular problems, weakness, headache, mouth and throat problems, anxiety, and restlessness than the control group. The experimental group had less severe infection symptoms, hair loss, and mouth and throat problems after the interventions than the control group. In this study, the patients followed at home and provided web counseling and tele-counseling experienced less frequently chemotherapy symptoms.

Relationships Among Use of Complementary and Alternative Interventions, Urinary Incontinence, Quality of Life, and Self-esteem in Women With Urinary Incontinence.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine associations among sociodemographic characteristics, urinary incontinence (UI) characteristics, UI-specific quality of life and self-esteem, and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions for UI. DESIGN: Correlational-descriptive research. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: This sample comprised 394 female patients 18 years or older cared for in the urology and gynecology outpatient clinics of a university hospital in Samsun, Turkey. METHODS: Participants completed an investigator-developed questionnaire that included 2 validated instruments, King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic data and use of CAM interventions. Variables associated with CAM use were assessed using χ analysis. The differences between using CAM and scales points of the KHQ and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale were assessed using the t test, and the relationship between the KHQ and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale was assessed using correlation analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-three percent (n = 130) of women indicated using CAM interventions to manage their UI. The most common CAM intervention, reported by 52.6% of respondents, was prayer. Women with lower UI-specific quality of life and self-esteem scores were more likely to report using CAM interventions (P < .05). Women with lower education level used CAM more frequently than others (P < .05). Analysis revealed weak but statistically significant positive correlations for role limitations, physical limitations, social limitations, emotions, sleep/energy level and the symptom severity (P < .001), and personal relationships (P < .01) subdimensions of the KHQ. CONCLUSIONS: One-third of women indicated using CAM methods to manage their UI; the most commonly used intervention was prayer. Women using CAM reported both higher self-esteem and condition-specific health-related quality of life than women who did not use these interventions.

Attitude and practice of family planning methods among Roma women living in northern Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the attitude and practice of family planning (FP) methods among Roma women living in northern Turkey. METHODS: A total of 120 Roma women living in northern Turkey participated in this descriptive study. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The scale of FP attitude was used. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 28.9 ±â€¯1.8. Among the participants, 37.5% (45/120) were primary school graduates, 70.8% (85/120) were unemployed, 73.4% (88/120) were in a consensual marriage and 94.2% (113/120) had children. The majority or 85.8% (103/120) of the participants stated that they used FP methods. Intrauterine device (57.4%, 69/120) and withdrawal method (22.3%, 27/120) were the most frequently used FP methods. CONCLUSIONS: The rates at which Roma women use FP were high. Their attitudes towards FP tended to be negative and the methods used were primarily related to females.

University Students' Awareness of Breast and Cervical Cancers: A Comparison of Two Countries and Two Different Cultures.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate Turkish and Polish female university students' awareness of breast and cervical cancers. The study was conducted in Turkey and Poland with 350 female students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study's data were collected using Self-Administered Form questioning students' sociodemographic characteristics and awareness of breast and cervical cancer. Data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0 for Windows with number, percentage, and chi square test. RESULTS: According to the findings, a significant difference was found between Turkish and Polish students on knowing and applying Breast Self-Exam (BSE) (p<0.05). No difference was found between the two student groups on considering mammography as required. 81.1% of Turkish and 68.1% of Polish students considered Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) as required; the difference was significant. A significantly higher number of Turkish students knew high-fat diet, overweight, first childbirth at advanced ages, and not having given birth as risk factors, while a higher number of Polish students knew using oral contraceptive as risk factor for breast cancer. A significantly higher number of Turkish students knew cancer history in family, Human Papilloma Virus, smoking, immunodeficiency, overweight, three or more full-term pregnancies, the first pregnancy at advanced ages, and poverty as risk factors for cervical cancer. A greater number of Polish students only knew using oral contraceptive as a risk factor; the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Results of this study showed that breast and cervix cancer awareness is similar among university students in both countries.

Breast and cervical cancer knowledge and awareness among university students.

BACKGROUND: Breast and cervical cancers are the most common types of cancer in women worldwide. Previous studies in Asia have shown that related knowledge and awareness is low among female university students. The goal of this study was to assess breast and cervical cancer knowledge, practices, and awareness among female university students in Samsun,Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was a cross-sectional survey of female university students using a self-administered. questionnaire to investigate participant awareness and knowledge of breast and cervical cancer. A total of 301 female university students participated. Descriptive statistics and chi square tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants in this study was 22.0 ± 5.91 years. Regarding family history, 89.7 % of the students had no known familial history of breast cancer. Students (65.4%) had knowledge about breast self examination and 52.2 % of them had performed breast self examinationm while 55.1% of them had knowledge about prevention of cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results are preliminary, the study points to an insufficient knowledge of university students in Samsun about breast and cervical cancer.

Nurses' protective measures during chemotherapy preparation and administration in Turkey*.

Chemotherapeutic agents are known to be carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic to humans. Occupational exposure to chemotherapeutic agents is a potential risk. The aim of this study was to determine the safety measures on personal and environmental protection taken by nurses during chemotherapy preparation and administration. Current study was conducted between 1 April and 30 June 2007 in the chemotherapy administration units of all hospitals in Samsun, North of the Turkey. Seventy-three nurses were included in the study group. Data were obtained via questionnaire form. Findings for nurses' safety behaviour and usage of recommended health safety measures showed that, notwithstanding the rules and regulations pertaining to chemotherapeutics, nurses did not comply with them fully. The study expanded that health providers and clinical environment are under threat for contamination of chemotherapeutics. The results clearly point the importance of need for regular education programme. This study also revealed the necessity for improvement of the working environment.

The problems encountered by midwives during breast self-examination training.

UNLABELLED: The second leading cause of cancer death in Turkey, breast cancer accounts for 24% of female cancers, with a crude incidence rate of 7.2 per 100,000 women in 1999. It was determined that breast self-examination (BSE) is carried out effectively if it is taught by a physician or a midwife/nurse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study was performed in 16 health centers found in the city center of Samsun between 01.09.2006 and 30.12.2006. A total of 124 midwives work in the health centers found in the city center of Samsun. It tried to cover the total population rather than sampling part of it. However, 11 midwives, where there was error detected in their data coding paper, and who did not accept to join the study, were excluded from the study. A total of 103 midwives (response rate=83.06%) were included in the study group. The data were collected using a questionnaire form and a problem definition list prepared according to the literature. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: While 90.3% of the midwives stated that they performed BSE, it was seen that 82.6% of the midwives performed BSE irregularly. While 97.1% of the midwives considered BSE as important, 78.6% of them stated that they had had on-the-job training about BSE. About 82.5% of the midwives stated that they educated women about BSE and 75.7% of them said that they did not feel as sufficient themselves for BSE training. The midwives stated that the most frequent problems encountered were that the women were not willing to apply BSE (43.7%), the women were not able to distinguish the masses from normal breast tissue (48.5%), the women did not feel confident in detecting the masses (49.5%) and the women were not willing to think about cancer (41.7%). CONCLUSION: This study shows that multiple reasons are affecting women's BSE practices, which midwives should address when delivering their training sessions.