The Effect of Aromatherapy on Elderly Persons With Dry Skin: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Dry skin, which is one of the most frequent dermatological problems seen in the elderly population, is an important problem that increases with aging. This study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental trial to determine the effect of aromatherapy, applied to elderly persons residing in a nursing home in a city center, on dry skin. Elderly persons were grouped into a control group (20 elderly persons), an olive oil group (20 elderly persons), and an aromatherapy group (20 elderly persons). When examining between-measurements differences of the groups in the study, skin moisture levels of the elderly individuals in the aromatherapy group increased in all zones, arm, leg, back, and chest, at measurements of the second and fourth weeks compared with the first measurements. This improvement was determined to be higher after the second week. Skin moisture levels of elderly persons in the olive oil group were determined to significantly increase at the arm zone in the fourth week and at the back zone in the second and fourth weeks compared with the first measurements. Skin moisture levels of elderly persons in the control group, on the contrary, did not change in the second and fourth weeks compared with the first measurements and their dry skin continued at the same level. The intervention performed in this manner in the present study can be used in the clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention to reducing dry skin among elderly persons.

Immunity of nursing students to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in Yozgat, Turkey.

Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) are vaccine-preventable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the vaccination status of first-year nursing students in Turkey. The sample used was 180 students and immunoglobulin G antibodies against MMRV viruses were determined quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunity rates to MMRV were 82.8%, 83.3%, 98.3%, and 100%, respectively. The results of this study showed that all of the students were immune to varicella and 32.8% of the students were not immune to at least 1 of the viruses covered by the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

Pressure ulcers and their associated factors in nursing home inmates.

OBJECTIVE: To assess pressure ulcers and the associated risk factors, among the individuals who stayed at Yozgat Rehabilitation Care Center in Turkey. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Yozgat Rehabilitation Care Center, Turkey, from August to September 2011. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and seventy five individuals participated in the study who received care at the above nursing home and agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected with an information form of descriptive characteristics (the form included a total of 15 questions asked to get information about socio-demographic characteristics) and Braden risk assessment scale. For the data evaluation, Mann-Whitney U-test, Krushall-Wallis Variance analysis, Logistic Regression analysis were used. Statistical significance was defined by a probability level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean score of Braden risk assessment scale of the individuals was 15.0 ± 3.3 and 16.0% were under very high risk. Nine (5.1%) had pressure ulcers. The average duration of stay was 2.17 ± 0.80 years. Participants who were underweight, had lived at the rehabilitation center for a longer time, and were fed on regime 1, had a higher risk of developing pressure ulcers (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Individuals who stayed in nursing home were under very high risk of pressure ulcer. Pressure ulcers are preventable by the elimination of some risk factors and good nursing care. Such individuals should be periodically assessed in terms of risk.

Student nurses' attitudes toward dying patients in central Anatolia.

PURPOSE: This study was descriptively conducted to explore attitudes of nursing students related to caring for dying patients in central Anatolia. METHODS: The study was completed with 222 third-year students of nursing school originating from three universities in Turkey. RESULT: It was explored that Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale (FATCOD) scores of the students who had previously cared for terminal patients at the clinics were significantly higher, and the scores of those who regarded themselves as nonbeliever in terms of religion were significantly lower (p < .05). CONCLUSION: It was seen that nursing students' FATCOD scores were at a moderate level. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: We are of the opinion that it will be helpful that nursing students should be trained about the care for dying patients during their formal education.