Intergenerational exploration of traditional practices affecting child health: A phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: All over the world, various traditional practices affect child health. The aim of our research was to explore the changes in traditional practices that affect child health between generations and to investigate the life experiences of generations in depth. METHODS: Using a phenomenological design, this study was conducted with semi-structured interviews with families of both generations (mothers and daughters). The study was written based on the COREQ checklist. FINDINGS: Four themes (traditional practices and intergenerational differences, beliefs/emotions related to traditional practices, influence factors in traditional practices, traditional methods in child care) and fourteen sub-themes (change in practices between generations, intergenerational transmission of traditional practices, beliefs in perceived benefits, skepticism and disbelief attitude, emotional reactions and perceiving as unnecessary, mother/mother in-law, traditional knowledge from mothers and grandmothers, family elders, the role of the internet and social media, spiritual practices, use of herbal products, alternative applications to medicines, relaxing applications, health consequences of traditional practices) were generated from the data. DISCUSSION: According to the findings, some harmless traditional practices are still relevant across generations, while harmful practices are mostly abandoned by new generations. The level of education and access to information has led the new generation to question traditional practices and show more interest in scientific knowledge-based methods. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: This research can contribute to advances in child health by helping us understand beliefs, feelings, and influencing factors related to traditional practices. Maternal education and community awareness-raising campaigns can be used to reduce harmful traditional practices.

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Paediatric Cancer Coping Scale (PCCS).

BACKGROUND: To determine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Paediatric Cancer Coping Scale, a scaling tool that has three subscales (cognitive coping, problem-oriented coping and defensive coping) and was developed to examine the coping strategies of children with a cancer diagnosis. DESIGN: This psychometric evaluation study focused on validity and reliability assessment of a scale between November 2018 and May 2019. METHODS: Study sample consisted of 165 children with cancer aged 7- to 18-years followed up in the outpatient clinics of a children's hospital. The retest sample consisted of 85 children. Data were collected using a Descriptive Characteristics Form and the Turkish version of the Paediatric Cancer Coping Scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and total item correlation were calculated for internal consistency reliability. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine construct validity. RESULTS: The total Cronbach's alpha (α) of the Turkish version of the Paediatric Cancer Coping Scale was 0.77. According to exploratory factor analysis, the Paediatric Cancer Coping Scale has three subscales (cognitive coping, problem-oriented coping and defensive coping). Our results showed a positive and statistically significant correlation between the scale total, cognitive coping and problem-oriented coping scores (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the Paediatric Cancer Coping Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to assess coping styles in paediatric cancer patients. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? There is no measurement tool in Turkey to examine coping skills of children with a cancer diagnosis. The number of children diagnosed with cancer is increasing day by day. The children who use coping methods effectively during the disease may be better adapted to treatment. What this paper adds? This study is used to define coping skills of children diagnosed with cancer. Defining the level of children's coping with cancer can enable the child to be guided to receive psychosocial support. The implications of this paper Once the coping skills/levels of children can be measured, those who need help/assistance can be helped. This study will help nurses to identify coping levels of children with a cancer diagnosis. Nurses will be able to evaluate the psychosocial status of children using an objective measurement tool and make a care plan.

Effect of parental depression level on children's quality of life after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the impact of parental depression level on children's quality of life after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHOD: This study was conducted in a bone marrow transplantation unit of a children's hospital in Ankara, Turkey. The research sample consisted of 82 parents. Children aged 2-18 years and monitored in polyclinics 100 days after HSCT were included in the study. A sociodemographic data form, parent forms of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used. RESULTS: Forty (48%) mothers and 42 (51.2%) fathers participated in the study. Of the children, 30 (36.6%) were female and 52 (63.4%) were male, and their mean age was 10.68 [standard deviation (SD) 4.80] years. Twenty-six children (31.7%) had been diagnosed with thalassaemia, and 29 children (35.4%) had undergone HSCT in the previous 25-36 months. The mean total scale score on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory was 61.37 (SD 21.85), and the mean parental BDI Score was 14.57 (SD 11.03). Fourteen (17.1%) parents had severe depression and 10 (12.2%) parents had moderate depression. Low statistical correlation was found between the parental BDI score and the total scale score on the Pediatric Quality of Life (r = -0.281; P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Parental depression level affects children's quality of life after HSCT. Following transplantation, it is important to evaluate parental depression level and provide support.