Complementary and Alternative Medicine Methods Used by Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study sought to determine complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods used by older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample for this descriptive study comprised 415 adults older than 65 years who completed an online questionnaire between August and October 2020. The study used descriptive statistical methods and a χ2 test for the statistical analysis of data. In the study, 55.4% of participants had used one or more CAM methods during the pandemic. The most frequently used methods were vitamin and mineral supplements (48.5%) and herbal products (37.2%). The study determined that 43.1% of participants did not inform their health care professionals of the method they had used. It is possible that the use of CAM methods by older adults during the pandemic and the decrease in the frequency of seeking care at health care institutions could complicate the management of health problems related to the use of CAMs.

The effect of COVID-19 on fear, anxiety, and sleep in nursing students.

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on fear, anxiety, and sleep in nursing students. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 1222 students in the 2019-2020 academic year who were members of the student nurses association. The data were collected online via Google Form between June and August 2020 using the student information form containing socio-demographic characteristics, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7) Scale, the fear of COVID-19 scale, and the Bergen Insomnia Scale. RESULTS: In our study, the mean score of the fear of COVID-19 scale of nursing students was 18.23 ± 6.31, and it was determined that 51.8% had sleep problems and 70.9% had anxiety (39.9% mild, 20.8% moderate, and 10.2% severe). In simple linear regression analysis, the fear of COVID-19 was found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with anxiety (ß: 0.383, p = 0.001), and the fear of COVID-19 (ß: 0.120, p = 0.001) and anxiety (ß: 0.346, p = 0.001) was found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with sleep. CONCLUSION: In our study, there is a relationship between nursing students' fear of COVID-19 and anxiety and sleep quality. Accordingly, it is recommended to train students in effective methods for coping with the fear of COVID-19, and to take initiatives to reduce related anxiety and sleep problems.

Quality of work life and working conditions among oncology nurses: A national online descriptive cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to examine the quality of work life (QoWL) and working conditions of oncology nurses in Turkey. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design. The data were collected via the introductory information form and Brooks' Quality of Nursing Work Life Survey. The study was completed with 138 nurses. The factors affecting QoWL were determined using stepwise multiple linear regression. Nurses had a moderate QoWL, and age, duration of working in nursing, the number of nurses, and the working style were significantly associated with QoWL. To improve the QoWL, the nurses' socio-demographic factors should be considered and working conditions should be improved. Furthermore, well-designed institutional policies should be developed to improve the patient-nurse ratio and provide a quality healthcare.What this paper adds?In the current study, Turkish oncology nurses had a moderate quality of work life.Age, duration of working in the nursing, the number of nurses in the unit and the working style were linked to work-related quality of life in oncology nurses.Well-designed institutional policies should be developed to improve the working conditions and to increase work-related quality of life in oncology nurses.

Effects of selfcare and selected factors on the quality of life in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to examine the effects of selfcare and selected factors on the quality of life in women with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). METHODS: The study was descriptive and cross-sectional and included 101 women with BCRL. Data were gathered with a descriptive characteristics questionnaire, the Lymphedema Quality of Life Scale-Arm and the Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Selfcare Scale. Obtained data were analyzed with numbers, percentages, mean, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The lowest and the highest scores of the women with lymphedema (LE) on the Lymphedema Quality of Life Scale-Arm were 35 and 71 respectively with a mean of 52.63 ± 11.81. The lowest and the highest scores to be obtained from this scale are 20 and 80 respectively. The quality of life was predicted significantly and positively by time elapsing after the diagnosis of breast cancer and significantly and negatively by time elapsing after the diagnosis of LE and selfcare (p < 0.05). Other variables did not individually affect the quality of life (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Since selfcare influences the quality of life, patients with BCRL should be given education and support for selfcare, the quality of their lives should be regularly evaluated, and interventions that enhance the quality of their lives should be conducted.

Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Readiness to Encounter Partner Abuse Patients Scale.

AIM: Partner abuse is a global public health issue with both short- and long-term health effects. Healthcare professionals frequently encounter patients who experience partner abuse and should be knowledgeable about how to respond to these individuals. The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of The Readiness to Encounter Partner Abuse Patients (READI) Scale. DESIGN: A descriptive, methodological and cross-sectional design was used. METHODS: Data were collected with a sociodemographics form and the READI-T Scale between 13 December 2021 and 5 January 2022. The study sample comprised nursing students (n = 323) at or over the age of 18 years and accepting to take part in the study. The linguistic and content validity and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess the validity of the scale. The reliability of the scale was achieved using Cronbach's alpha, item-total correlations and test-retest. RESULTS: The READI-T Scale had a content validity index of 0.99 and adequate sensitivity. The factor loadings ranged from 0.63 to 0.84 for the self-efficacy sub-dimension, from 0.82 to 0.91 for the emotional readiness sub-dimension, from 0.47 to 0.81 for the motivational readiness sub-dimension and from 0.28 to 0.64 for the partner abuse knowledge sub-dimension. The CFA showed that the model had a good fit (x2 /df = 1.792; GFI = 0.88; CFI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.050). Cronbach's alpha was found to be 0.92 for the scale. CONCLUSION: The READI-T Scale is a valid and reliable tool to determine whether Turkish nursing students are knowledgeable enough to encounter partner abuse patients. IMPACT: This scale can be used to determine the training needs of healthcare professionals on partner abuse and may be useful as a pre-and posttest to determine the effects of partner abuse education programs. Thus, this scale may also assist early identification of persons who have a risk for partner abuse.

The Effect of Environmental Stressors on Patient Experience in Medical, Surgical, and COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of environmental stressors on patients' intensive care experiences in medical, surgical, and COVID-19 intensive care units (ICUs). The sample group consisted of 231 patients hospitalized in medical and surgical ICUs and agreed to participate in the study. The data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The average age of the patients was 53.67 ± 13.3, 55.4% were male, 47.6% were high school graduates, and 45.5% were followed up in the COVID-19 ICU. It was also found that there was a negative and moderate degree of correlation between the Intensive Care Experience Scale (ICES) and the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressors Scale (ICUESS). Environmental stressors in ICUs are associated with patient experiences. It is clear that ICU stressors create a negative perception in the patient and this situation is emotionally exhausting.

Attitudes of oncology nurses regarding ageism.

PURPOSE: Ageism is reported to have negative impacts on older cancer patients' health and wellbeing. Nurses' attitudes to ageism influence the quality of care of older cancer patients and the prognosis of the disease. The aim of this descriptive and quantitative study was to determine oncology nurses' attitudes regarding ageism. METHODS: Data were collected online by using a sociodemographic and clinical features form developed in light of the literature and the Ageism Attitude Scale. The data collection tools were filled in by 237 oncology nurses between June and September in 2020. Obtained data were analyzed with mean, standard deviation, numbers, percentages, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: The mean score of the oncology nurses on the Ageism Attitude Scale was 87.76 ± 9.22 (ranging from 63 to 111), and their attitudes to old age were positive. The mean scores of the nurses on the subscales were as follows: 37.45 ± 4.69 for restricting life of the elder, 30.05 ± 5.27 for positive discrimination, and 20.30 ± 4.58 for negative discrimination. Also, 75.94% of the nurses experienced difficulty in offering care to older patients. The mean score of the nurses on the Ageism Attitude Scale significantly differed in terms of age, duration of work experience, staying with older people, and financial status (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the oncology nurses generally had positive attitudes to older people. Incorporation of geriatrics related topics into both undergraduate education and in-service training could help to maintain positive attitudes to older people and prevent unfavorable attitudes to them. It can also be recommended that attitudes of health professionals to ageism should be evaluated by older people in further studies.

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.

Knowledge and Practices of Nurses Regarding Wound Healing.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and practices of nurses who work at surgical clinics regarding incisional wound healing. DESIGN: This research was a descriptive study. METHODS: The sample consisted of 393 nurses who worked at the surgical clinics of public and private hospitals. The questionnaire used to collect data was prepared by use of expert opinion based on the relevant literature review. FINDINGS: The mean score of knowledge regarding wound healing was found to be 62.0 ± 8.4. It was determined that as the educational level of the nurses increased, their knowledge mean score increased (P < .05). Nearly half of the nurses did not perform wound healing practices regularly, whereas more than half of the nurses did not fulfill discharge education practices on wound care regularly. CONCLUSIONS: Education should be carried out to improve knowledge, attitude, and skills of nurses concerning wound healing and care.

Effect of Ice Bag Application to Femoral Region on Pain in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the pain reduction effectiveness of ice bag applications to the femoral region in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with repeated measures and two-group design. The study was completed with a total of 104 patients who met the inclusion criteria: 52 each in the experimental group and the control group. The pain experienced by the patients was evaluated before and during removal and again while the nurse applied pressure on the catheter site after removal. The NRS scores were identified as NRS1, NRS2, and NRS3 for the three assessment, respectively. RESULTS: The NRS1 score was similar between the two groups. It increased at the 2nd measurement, and a statistically significant difference was determined between the two groups (4.0 (3.0-4.0) in the experimental group and 6.0 (4.0-7.0) in the control group) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study revealed that ice bag application to femoral region was effective in reducing pain induced by femoral catheter removal in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Local ice bag application may therefore be recommended as a nursing intervention for pain control in such cases.