The effect of case-based teaching method on professional competence and clinical decision-making levels of public health nursing students: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of case-based teaching method applied to fourth year nursing students on their professional competence and clinical decision-making levels. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design study with a sequential-exploratory mixed-method approach. SAMPLE: 64 nursing students enrolled in the Public Health Nursing course. METHODS: A case-based teaching program was applied to the students that cover the topics of the Public Health Nursing course. Quantitative phase data were collected with the Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale and Nursing Students' Competence Scale. For the qualitative part, focus group interviews were conducted with a Structured Interview Form. RESULTS: It was determined that the total and subscale posttest scores of the students increased significantly compared to their pretest scores (p < .001). A moderate positive correlation was found between the total scores received from the scale and a significant positive correlation was found between researching information and adopting new information impartially and all sub-dimensions except care (p < .05). Three main themes emerged from the focus group interviews conducted after the case-based teaching method experience: usefulness, limitations, and improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Case-based teaching method is effective on students' professional competence and clinical decision-making scores. Students' professional competence levels positively affect their clinical decision-making levels.

Non-Fatal Agricultural Injuries and First Aid Self-Efficacy Among Greenhouse Workers in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to see if there was a link between first aid self-efficacy and the frequency of occupational accidents and non-fatal agricultural injuries in greenhouse agriculture workers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 251 people in a district center. Sociodemographic, occupational accident, and injury questionnaires prepared by the researchers and the First Aid Self-Efficacy Scale were used to collect the data. SPSS 25.0 software was used to evaluate the data and descriptive statistics; the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance were applied in the analysis. RESULTS: 71.4% of the participants experienced an occupational accident by falling and slipping; 41.7% were slightly injured after the accident, and 63.2% experienced injuries in fractures, sprains, and crushes. We found that most injuries were in the lower extremities (33.2%), and 66.4% were admitted to the hospital. We ascertained that male workers' median first-aid self-efficacy scores were significantly higher than those of female workers (p < .05). We determined there was no significant difference between first-aid self-efficacy scores according to other sociodemographic variables, occupational accidents, or injury data (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Occupational accidents and non-fatal agricultural injuries are common in greenhouse agriculture, and male workers have higher first-aid self-efficacy than female workers. Since greenhouse work is a hazardous line of work, providing simple medical first-aid training would be useful for those working in this field.

Exploring Disease Management Experiences of Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on disease management among individuals with type 2 diabetes and to explore their perspectives on COVID-19. This descriptive qualitative study included patients with diabetes, with a sample of 15 patients meeting the study criteria. The data were analyzed using code groups, which were then further categorized into main themes and subthemes. The main themes were: initial contact with the SARS-CoV-2 that is associated with COVID-19 illness changes in diabetes self-management behaviors; attempt at maintaining diabetes selfmanagement behaviors; and problems with accessing diabetes care. The study findings revealed several significant insights. Individuals with diabetes exhibited a fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2, which led to reduced levels of exercise and difficulties in managing blood sugar levels and insulin adjustments. Moreover, due to anxiety about COVID-19 infection, they postponed health check-ups, resulting in experiencing diabetes-related complications.

The relationship between spiritual well-being, hope and depression in gynecologic oncology patients.

The authors' aim in this study was to determine the relationship between spiritual well-being, hope and depression in gynecologic oncology patients. This is a descriptive and correlational study. The patients received a total of 41.59 ± 12.11 points from the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, 5.57 ± 4.19 points from the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and 14.92 ± 11.61 points from the Beck Depression Scale. Gynecologic oncology patients had high spiritual well-being levels and low hopelessness and depression levels, and their hopelessness and depression levels decreased and hope levels increased as their spiritual well-being levels increased.

Prevalence of obesity and hypertension in children and determination of associated factors by CHAID analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity and hypertension in children is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and increases the prevalence of heart failure and associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension, as well as the associated risk factors, in school-age children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 21 schools in Antalya, Turkey. A total of 5160 students between the ages of 5 and 15 years participated in the study. The data were collected using a questionnaire, and students' height, weight, and blood pressure were measured. The data were evaluated using numbers, percentages, mean, and chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis. RESULTS: In all, 11.4% of children were overweight, 11.8% were obese, 6.8% had prehypertension, and 5.7% had hypertension. School level, school location, and father's educational status were determined as factors associated with overweight and obesity; BMI, school level, school location, and mother's working status were determined as factors related to hypertension in the children. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension, overweight, and obesity was found to be significantly high in the children, especially those living in rural areas. Therefore, it is recommended that these health issues be monitored in children and that necessary measures be taken by considering regional differences.

Adaptation of the COV19-QoL Scale to Turkish culture: Its psychometric properties in diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals.

This study was conducted to adapt the COV19-QoL scale to Turkish culture and to examine its psychometric properties in individuals diagnosed with and without COVID-19. A total of 1069 people aged between 18 and 65 years participated in the study. The COV19-QoLTR scale has six items, and it was confirmed to be one-dimensional in the Turkish sample (participants diagnosed with and without COVID-19 and the general population). Participants' perceived quality of life and levels of anxiety and depression were the most affected areas and their physical and mental health levels were the least affected by the pandemic.

The problems of women working in greenhouse agriculture in rural area in Turkey: A phenomenological study from health and social perspective.

Working in agriculture may cause serious health problems due to heavy working conditions and chemical exposure. This Husserlian phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with 22 women working in greenhouse agriculture to investigate the health and social problem(s). In the evaluation of the data, Colaizzi's seven-step content analysis method and thematic analysis were used. The Kappa analysis was performed with two independent experts to measure the reliability of comparative fit, and the value obtained in the analysis was 1.00 (perfect fit). Based on the content analysis, six themes were defined. All participants indicated that they had different reproductive health-related problems. Some participants stated that their children had respiratory system-related problems and that they were subjected to physical, verbal/emotional and sexual violence by their husbands. It is important to provide health education, counselling services and screening programmes for women who work in greenhouse agriculture and thus are in the at-risk group for poor health.

Investigation of the relationship between nursing students' disgust sensitivity and caring behaviours.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the disgust sensitivity of nursing students, the factors affecting this sensitivity, their caring behaviors and the relationships between these components. BACKGROUND: Disgust sensitivity has been conceptualized as the degree of disgust felt in response to various stimuli. Nursing students often encounter recognized disgust triggers in clinical practice, such as feces, mucus, urine, foul-smelling wounds and contact with the dead. The nursing students' disgust sensitivity can affect the way they think and may affect their care behaviors. DESIGN: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design and was conducted with nursing students in a Turkish university nursing program (n = 577). METHODS: The study data was collected through the Disgust Sensitivity Scale-Revised Form and the Caring Assessment Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the students in the study, 59.6% stated that they experienced disgust while providing care. A negative relationship was found between students' total scores from the Disgust Scale and the Caring Assessment Questionnaire (p < 0.01). The students' disgust sensitivity level was high and the higher the disgust sensitivity, the fewer caring behaviors they exhibited. CONCLUSIONS: In light of these findings, it can be said that the caring behaviors of nursing students are negatively influenced by disgust sensitivity. Hence, nurse educators need to evaluate students' disgust sensitivity, help students to identify and address their disgust emotions, deal with disgust management strategies together and be aware of when students need support.

Nursing students' readiness and coping strategies for the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: In the COVID-19 pandemic process, nursing students, who are the nurses of the future, have witnessed a different professional experience. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine nursing students' readiness and the coping strategies they used during the COVID-19 pandemic process in Turkey. METHODS: This is a descriptive correlational study using descriptive and inferential analysis. 967 nursing students of two public universities completed the online survey. A socio-demographic form and the Coping Strategies used in Crisis Intervention Scale (CSCIS) were used to collect the data. RESULTS: The mean score for crisis coping of the students was 189.53 ± 27.33 (range 48-240). In case of a state of emergency and an acute pandemic, while 44.1% of the students considered their individual resilience sufficient, 33.6% and 34.6% of them considered their ability to solve problems that may arise and their appropriate coping skills against negative effects, respectively, sufficient. The curriculum of undergraduate nursing education was considered sufficient in terms of readiness by 29.7% of the students, crisis intervention by 25.2% of them, and knowledge/skill level by 30.1% of them. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students can cope with the crisis during the COVID-19 process.

Breast Cancer Perception Scale: Psychometric Development Study.

OBJECTIVE: The Breast Cancer Perception Scale was developed using a well-supported theory, thought to be associated with breast cancer prevention behaviors. The aim of this study is to develop the Breast Cancer Perception Scale based on the Health Belief Model and conduct psychometric analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted with women aged 20 or above with a methodological design. The scale study was conducted with 572 women who were not diagnosed with breast cancer and willing to participate in the study. RESULTS: The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale is made up of six sub-dimensions (perceived knowledge, perceived treatment belief, the perceived need for a health check, perceived stigma, perceived fear, perceived risk) and 24 items, which explain the 74.36% of the total variance. The model obtained from the confirmatory factor analysis was within the limits of the acceptable fit index and factor loads between 0.655 and 0.998. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the scale sub-dimensions was determined as 0.815-0.950. CONCLUSION: The overall psychometric evaluation results of the Breast Cancer Perception Scale found it to be a valid and reliable instrument that can be associated with multi-dimensional cases, such as healthy life behaviors in women, breast cancer diagnostic behaviors, family history, traumatic experiences regarding breast cancer, and the level of breast cancer knowledge.

Domestic violence against women during the Covid-19 pandemic: Turkey sample.

In this study, researchers aimed to assess the situation of domestic violence against women during the pandemic. 332 women participated in the study. It was found that emotional, verbal and total violence scores of the literate ones were higher. The emotional violence scores of the women who do not work and whose partners do not work due to the pandemic are higher (p < 0.05). The researchers reached the conclusion that emotional violence is higher during the pandemic process, and that failing to work in an income-generating job triggers this situation.

Effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact on postpartum depression: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of the skin-to-skin contact (SSC) method on postpartum depression. DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed. FINDINGS: This review was completed with three studies meeting the research criteria. Two studies were randomized controlled studies and one study had a quasi-experimental design. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: SSC is such a low-cost intervention that it would be accessible, simple, and feasible for most mothers in the first postpartum weeks. By reducing mothers' depressive symptoms and physiological stress, SSC facilitates mothers' wellbeing and ultimately affects infants' development by enhancing the mother/infant relationship.

The effect of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on the mental well-being and mental health of individuals.

AIM: This study was conducted to examine the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being and mental health of individuals. DESIGN AND METHOD: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted with 614 individuals over the age of 18. FINDINGS: Regarding the coronavirus outbreak, it was found that 84.9% of the participants are afraid/anxious. The psychiatric problems of the individuals who fear/worry about coronavirus becoming a pandemic, who stated that staying at home because of the outbreak negatively affect their mental health and that domestic violence cases have increased due to the outbreak were found to be higher (p < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATION: The coronavirus outbreak causes fear and anxiety in society. This triggers so many psychological symptoms.

Self-management of chronic disease in individuals with psychotic disorder: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate self-management by individuals with a serious mental illness and an additional chronic disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. The study was carried out with 12 participants with a serious mental illness and an additional chronic disease. RESULTS: The participants had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and diabetes (75%). Based on the data, the difficulties faced by the patients in chronic disease management were determined as three themes: (a) personal-related difficulties, (b) family and society-related difficulties, and (c) healthcare system-related difficulties. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses' interventions to accurately inform other clinicians and leading professional groups in the community will support individuals with serious mental illnesses to improve their self-management by reducing the burden of stigma.

The effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on health-related quality of life in children.

INTRODUCTION: The study was conducted to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related quality of life in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted with 597 children aged 7-13 and their parents using the online data collection tool via social media. Socio-demographic form and Generic Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children (Kid-KINDL) were used to collect the data. SPSS 23.0 program, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: During the pandemic, 41.5% of the parents stated that their child gained weight, tendency to sleep of 34.2% and tendency to use the Internet of 69.3% increased. The average self-reported quality of life score of the children was found to be 73.91 ± 8.44. The self-esteem sub-dimension score of the children whose tendency to sleep increased during the pandemic (p < 0.05); and the physical well-being (p < 0.001), emotional well-being (p < 0.001), self-esteem (p < 0.001), family (p < 0.01), school (p < 0.05) sub-dimensions and total (p < 0.05) score averages of the children whose tendency to use the Internet were found to be lower. The emotional well-being, family and friends sub-dimensions as well as total average scores of the children of the parents who feel fear/anxiety about coronavirus becoming a pandemic and who stated that lockdown negatively affected their mental health were found to be lower (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although self-reported quality of life scores of children were generally good, parents reported that their children gained weight, tendency to sleep and internet use increased during the pandemic.

The relationship between gestational active and passive smoking and early postpartum complications.

Objective: The studies especially on the postpartum effects of passive exposure to cigarette smoke are limited, although there are studies investigating early and late postpartum effects of active smoking during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gestational active and passive smoking and early postpartum complications.Methods: This study was conducted with 217 women in the early postpartum period (first 7 days after birth) in a research hospital, gynecology and obstetrics clinic. Data were collected using the questionnaire form prepared in accordance with the literature by the face-to-face interview method. They were evaluated in the SPSS 23.0 program, and descriptive statistics, logistic regression analysis in multivariate analyses and multiple linear regression analysis were in the analysis of data.Results: In the study, it was found that active smoking was associated with cardiac anomalies (OR = 0.18, 95% = CI 0.03-0.91; p = .039), developmental retardation (OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.02-0.56; p = .008), respiratory distress (OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.02-0.58; p = .008), low birth weight (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.08-0.57; p = .003) and premature labor (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.16-0.59; p = .000) while passive smoking was associated with premature labor (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.25-0.89; p = .021). It was determined that passive smoking was associated with gestational hypertension (OR 0.30, 95% CI = 0.09-0.85; p = .025). Nevertheless, it was found that active smoking negatively affected the infant's birth weight (p = .000), length (p = .040), head circumference (p = .000) and breastfeeding (p = .005).Conclusion: Gestational active and passive smoking has significant negative effects on maternal and infant health in the early postpartum period.

Attitudes of Young Adult Men Toward Domestic Violence and Factors Affecting Their Attitudes in Turkey.

Domestic violence is commonly observed worldwide; however, exposure to violence is not often mentioned directly. Prevention of domestic violence may be one of the most important social problems and requires much time and effort to resolve. This study was conducted to determine the attitudes toward domestic violence of Turkish males who are young adult and undertake military service, and the factors that affect these attitudes. A cross-sectional study design was used. This study was conducted with 221 young adult men who applied to Sarikamis Military Hospital between December 2012 and February 2013. A questionnaire and the Attitude Toward Domestic Violence Scale were used for the collection of data. One-way ANOVA, T test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used in the process of analyzing the data. In the study, it was found that 10% of the young adult men were exposed to violence within their own family and the average of their total scores from the Attitude Toward Domestic Violence Scale was 49.41 ± 7.27. It was confirmed that undereducated men have more negative attitudes toward domestic violence than other groups. The present study determined that men who have negative attitudes toward domestic violence and who have a low education level affected attitudes toward domestic violence negatively. It is important that violence is prevented before it occurs. In this respect, health professionals, politicians, teachers, academics, and all community leaders have an important role in preventing initiatives on violence.

Difficulties experienced by nurses in older patient care and their attitudes toward the older patients.

BACKGROUND: There is little known about nurses' attitudes toward older people in Turkish society, particularly within centers providing care to older patients. OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to determine nurses' attitudes toward older patient care and the difficulties they experience. DESIGN: A descriptive research design was used. SETTINGS: The research population comprised 282 nurses working in the clinics of public hospitals in central Erzurum that mostly accommodate older patients. METHODS: Participants completed questionnaires regarding descriptive characteristics, the type of difficulties they experienced in older patient care, and the Turkish version of Kogan's Attitudes Toward Old People Scale. Data were evaluated by using percentage, Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis, t test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The study revealed that nurses experienced difficulties due to the inadequacy of physical conditions and technical equipment in hospitals; administrative problems; communication problems; and insufficient knowledge, skills and experience in older patient care. The nurses' overall attitude toward the older people was found to be positive (98.83 ± 11.19). CONCLUSIONS: The difficulties experienced by nurses in this sample resulted from the lack of technically equipped hospitals or clinics for older patients and the inadequacy of nurses' gerontology education. Despite these factors, the nurses' attitude toward older people was positive.