An Overlooked Detail: Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate sleep quality and quality of life, sociodemographic variables that may affect sleep quality, and the relationship between sleep and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive cross sectional study had a sample of 84 individuals (AF patients from April 2019-January 2020). The Patient Description Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the EQ-5D health-related quality of life instrument were used to collect data. RESULTS: The mean total PSQI score was 10.72 (±2.73), we found that most of the participants (90.5%) had poor sleep quality. While there was a significant difference between the sleep quality and employment status of the patients, there was no significant difference between age, gender, marital status, education level and income status, comorbidity, family history of AF, continuously used medication, non-drug AF treatment, and AF duration (P > .05). The sleep quality of those working in any job was better than of their non-working counterparts. Regarding the correlation between sleep quality and quality of life, a medium-level negative correlation was found between the patients' total mean PSQI and EQ-5D visual analogue scale scores. However, no significant correlation was found between the total mean PSQI and EQ-5D scores. CONCLUSION: We found that sleep quality in patients with AF was poor. In these patients, sleep quality should be evaluated and taken into consideration as a factor that affects quality of life.

Comfort Level in Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients and Affecting Factors: What Should We Know?

Caregivers are an important source of support for patients in palliative care. Comfort is an important concept in nursing care for both patients and their families, and nurses aim to increase comfort. The aim of the study was to determine the comfort level and influencing factors in caregivers of palliative care patients. The research sample consisted of 102 caregivers related to palliative care patients. The data were obtained with an Individual Information Form, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the End of Life Comfort Scale (Caregiver/Family). The study was conducted in the palliative care clinic of Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital between October 2018 and April 2019. There was a significant relationship between the total comfort score of the caregivers and the patient's performance status, the caregivers' age, their economic situation, the length of the caregiving period and receiving help in care (social support) (p < 0.05). Providing comfort is an important function and challenge for holistic nursing care, as comfort is a lifelong need in health and disease. Caregivers in the risk group should be aware of this issue and necessary precautions should be taken.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sleep Quality in the Turkish Population: A Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, people all over the world have been confined to their homes and exposed to unprecedented levels of stress. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the factors which are affecting sleep quality in the Turkish population during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The sample of this study consisted of 1023 individuals who completed a questionnaire by means of an online Google Forms connection by email and electronic communication between the dates of 12 July and 30 August 2020. A Personal Information Form, a Health Behavior Changes Form, the Numeric Rating Scale and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to collect data. RESULTS: It was found that 68.1% of the participants in the study had poor sleep quality and 31.9% had good sleep quality. Also, those with a history of contact with a person with COVID-19, or those who knew someone with COVID-19 in those close to them had significantly worse levels of sleep quality than the others (p<0.05). It may be predicted that participants with an education level of high school or lower, a low income, a reduction in physical activity or food intake, fatigue or high stress levels may have lower sleep quality. CONCLUSION: It is important to determine the factors affecting sleep quality during such large pandemics, and to provide the necessary support.

Nursing students' spiritual caregiving status: Comparison of Western and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the status of spiritual caregiving education in nursing students belonging to two different state universities in Turkey. DESIGN AND METHODS: The descriptive, cross-sectional study was completed with 326 students. FINDINGS: Turkey's western regions in mean scale scores of students (147.27 ± 19.40) in central Anatolia (140.83 ± 18.82) was higher than the students and the difference was statistically significant. A statistically significant difference was found between the total score averages of the Spiritual Caregiving Scale and their year of study, self-perception of spirituality, and relating their profession to spirituality (p < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It is recommended to include spiritual care issues and principles in the nursing education curriculum.

The effect of model-based telephone counseling on HbA1c and self-management for individuals with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: This study was conducted to examine the effect of telephone counseling based on the Information, Motivation, Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model on HbA1c and self-management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: This study was conducted between January 2019 and September 2019 with a total of 63 (31 interventions, 32 controls) T2DM patients. The intervention group was followed-up for a total of 12 weeks, after 45-60 min of patient training based on IMB, a weekly reminder message and a phone call every two weeks. No intervention was made to the control group. Data were collected at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 12th week. The data were obtained using a Patient Information Form, the Type 2 Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale, the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ), the Perceived Diabetes Self Management Scale (PDSMS) and glycemic control (HbA1c). RESULTS: Participants were on average 54 years old and the majority were female (58.1%). According to the results of the covariance analysis (ANCOVA), there was a statistically significant difference between the pre-post-test HbA1c (F:13.589; p < 0.001), weight (F:32.176; p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (F:7.109; p = 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in diastolic blood pressure between the intervention and control groups (F:2.686; p = 0.106). Also, after three months of follow-up, self-efficacy (F:26.632; p < 0.001), self-management (F:44.487; p < 0.001) and self-management perceptions (F:71.132; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: The researchers concluded that telephone counseling based on the IMB model could be a suitable method to improve glycemic control and self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Investigation of the effects of interventions made according to the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold Model on the care outcomes of Alzheimer patients and their families: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: One of the non-pharmacological methods used to reduce behavioural problems of Alzheimer's patients and the negative emotions accordingly experienced by caregivers consists of interventions performed according to the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) model. METHODS: This randomized controlled study aimed to determine the effect of interventions performed according to PLST on the care burden, care satisfaction, and life satisfaction of caregivers of middle and advanced stage Alzheimer's disease patients, and on the neuropsychiatric symptoms and agitation levels of these patients. The research was conducted with a total of 29 caregivers divided into intervention (15) and control (14) groups. Data were collected using an Introductory Information Form, plus the Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Carer's Assessment of Satisfaction Index, and Life Satisfaction Scale. Three home visits were made to the caregivers by the researchers in the first, second, and twelfth weeks of the intervention. During the home visits, face-to-face training was given as necessary to the individual caring for problems identified in the nursing care plan according to PLST. RESULTS: As a result of the PLST training, there was a decrease in the behavioural problems of Alzheimer's patients, along with a decrease in the care burden of the caregivers and an increase in their care satisfaction. When the scale total scores of the individuals in the intervention and control groups were compared, it was found that only caregivers' care satisfaction increased at a statistically significant level (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: At the end of the training given according to PLST, it was found that behavioural problems of Alzheimer's patients and the care burden of caregivers had decreased, and the care satisfaction of caregivers increased. It is recommended that Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers be given training and interventions according to PLST.

The Relationship Between Turkish Nursing Students' Perceptions of Spiritual Care and their Attitudes Towards Death.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students' perception of spiritual care and their attitudes towards death. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey between March and April 2021 with 601 nursing students using the Google Forms questionnaire. The "Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS)" and "Attitude towards Death Scale (ATDS)" were utilised to assist with data collection and analysis. While there was no relationship between the students' total SSCRS and total ATDS scores, there was a positive relationship between the total SSCRS and the Neutral Acceptance-Approach Acceptance Subscale (r = 0.129, p = 0.002), and a negative relationship between SSCRS and the Fear of Death and Avoidance of Death Subscale (r = - 0.097, p = 0.017). Providing support in terms of spiritual care and viewing spiritual care as related to nursing were related to the total SSCRS score. Alcohol use, viewing spiritual care as related to nursing, self-perceptions of spirituality, and fear of death were associated with the total ATDS score (p < 0.05). It is recommended that spiritual care and death perceptions be addressed more comprehensively in the educational curriculum of nursing students.

Life in lockdown: Social isolation, loneliness and quality of life in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had an unprecedented effect all over the world, especially in older individuals. The aim is to evaluate the social isolation, loneliness and quality of life of elderly individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and to map suggestions to reveal and improve the current situation. This was a scoping review. Articles since December 2019 to March 2021 published on PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, CINAHL databases with the following MeSh terms ('COVID-19', 'coronavirus', 'quality of life' 'aging', 'older people', 'elderly', 'loneliness' and 'social isolation) in English were included. The research, by consensus, resulted in seven studies selected for full reading, including three descriptive and cross-sectional studies, a quasi-experimental study, a pre-post pilot program, an editorial note and a correspondence. In generally, these recommendations were grouped as evaluating the current state of loneliness and isolation in elderly people, making more use of technology opportunities, using cognitive behavioral therapies and different individual intervention components.