The influence of laughter yoga on pregnancy symptoms, mental well-being, and prenatal attachment: A randomized controlled study.

The researchers' aim was to evaluate the impact of laughter yoga on pregnancy symptoms, mental well-being, and prenatal attachment. They carried out this study on 85 pregnant women randomized in a maternity hospital in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The researchers collected data using the Pregnant Introduction Form, Pregnancy Symptom Inventory (PSI), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), and Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). After applying the laughter yoga practice, they found that mental well-being and prenatal attachment levels were higher in pregnant women in the experimental group and the difference was statistically significant. Thus, they concluded that laughter yoga was an effective practice in reducing the frequency of pregnancy symptoms and limiting daily activities by pregnancy symptoms and increasing mental well-being and prenatal attachment levels.

Adaptation of the cyber aggression in relationships scale to Turkish: A validity and reliability study.

PURPOSE: In this study, the cyber aggression in relationships scale (CARS) was intended to be adapted to Turkish. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was designed as a methodological study with 426 students. FINDINGS: The best fit index values for both the cyber perpetration and cyber victimization scales (CVSs) were obtained through confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficients for the overall and sub-dimensions of the cyber perpetration scale and CVS were found to range from 0.88 to 0.92 and 0.85 to 0.91, respectively. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In the study, CARS was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for Turkish society.

The effect of shyness levels of women on early diagnosis attitudes towards cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of shyness levels of women on early diagnosis attitudes towards cervical cancer. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was planned as descriptive. Data were collected from women in the 18-49 age group who applied to family health centers in Sivas. The descriptive information form of women, the Shyness Scale, and the Attitude Scale for Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer were used. A total of 303 women were included in the study. FINDINGS: A significant negative correlation was detected between shyness levels of women and the perceived benefit, while a significant positive correlation was determined between shyness levels and perceived severity. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In this study, the perceived benefit increased as the shyness levels of women decreased.

Effectiveness of postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model: An interventional study.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effects of a postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model on postpartum women. METHODS: The interventional study was completed with 67 postpartum women. The intervention group was given the postpartum sexual health education programme structured according to Levine's conservation model. The control group received routine discharge training. The data were collected using a personal information form, The Index of Female Sexual Function, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction. RESULTS: It has been determined that the decrease in sexual arousal and desire is the first among postpartum sexual problems experienced by women. This study demonstrated that sexual function, sexual satisfaction and sexual response were higher in nonbreastfeeding women, women who had sexual intercourse one to three times a week and women who could talk to health care professionals on sexual matters. After the programme, the intervention group had more adequate sexual function, and they developed a strong, easy and satisfactory sexual response than the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This programme was effective in increasing the sexual functions and satisfaction of the postpartum women. Models provide guidance to nurses for provision of care in a systematic manner.

Breast self-examination, mammography and Pap test among Turkish women: Role of healthcare professionals in Sivas.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study is to determine how often women perform breast self-examination (BSE) and undergo mammography and Pap test, and how healthcare professionals affect them to do so. METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out with 1025 women, aged 20-82 years and living in the central district of Sivas, who presented to the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinics of Hospitals between January and December 2010, and who volunteered to participate in the study and gave their verbal agreement to the researchers. RESULTS: Out of the participants, 46.9% lacked mammogram knowledge, 13.2% received advice from healthcare professionals, and 20.1% thought that they were healthy and thus did not need mammography. Out of the participants, 45.9% lacked knowledge about the Pap test, 11.8% received advice from healthcare professionals, and 18.9% thought that they were healthy and thus did not need a 'Pap test'. CONCLUSIONS: While one-fourth of the participants stated that they performed BSE and underwent mammography at least once, more than half reported that they did not have a Pap test. In preventive healthcare services, periodic health examinations and screenings for the most common types of women cancers should be increased; midwives should give education and counseling, and the importance of practices aimed at raising social awareness should be emphasized.

Effect of episiotomy training with beef tongue and sponge simulators on the self-confidence building of midwifery students.

This study assesses the efficacy of simulation-based episiotomy training (SBET) with beef tongue and sponge models in terms of the self confidence of midwifery students while performing episiotomy. Third-year midwifery students from Cumhuriyet University in the fall semesters of 2011 and 2012 were enrolled in the sponge and beef tongue model groups (n = 36 and n = 37, respectively). A checklist was prepared on the required skills for performing episiotomy which can be broken into three main parts, namely preparation, cutting and repairing and completion. According to the checklist, a Likert type questionnaire was developed including 5 items for preparation, 11 items for cutting and repairing, and 6 items for completion. After SBET with the sponge and beef tongue models in our laboratories of Midwifery Department, the students performed episiotomy steps in laboring women in Sivas State Hospital and then they filled in the questionnaire to indicate whether they gained self-confidence in performing episiotomy or not. Although, participants of both groups have successfully completed all the steps of episiotomy, overall, beef tongue model was found to be more successful regarding their self-confidence (p < 0.05), including the skills in performing local anesthesia; choosing needle holder, suture material and scissor for cutting; identifying apex, hymen and skin; using needle holder properly while penetrating into the skin, suturing vaginal mucosa until hymen, knotting, and suturing perineal muscles and skin. Our results suggest that while SBET with both models are applicable for episiotomy training of midwifery students in the laboratory setting, SBET with beef tongue model provides an additional increase in their self-confidence in the clinical settings.

Determining the knowledge of women and their attitudes regarding gynecological cancer prevention.

The current study determines the knowledge of female course attendees of the "Municipality Cultural Center for Women", located in the city center of Sivas, Turkey, and their attitudes regarding gynecological cancer prevention. The participants of the study include 497 women attending one of the two Municipality Cultural Centers situated in the city center of Sivas. In this study, the sample was not selected; all participants were encompassed within the scope of our research. A total of 418 female course attendees who volunteered to participate in the research were identified as the sample. The data were collected during the months March-June 2011, by a questionnaire developed by the researchers. To compare the distribution of the collected data "Anova", "two independent t test examples" and "chi square test" were used. The research indicates that 45.1% of the women had had gynecological examination as a consequence of a physical disorder. The reason for 54.9% of the women to have gynecological examination is to have been scanned to check for gynecological cancer, 51.2% had a pap smear test. Some 34.9% of them had obtained information about cervical cancer, 39.7% via radio, television or internet and 36.3% from a doctor. Age, education level and marital status of the women participating in this study demonstrated statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) with gynecological examination and undergoing a pap smear test.

Predictors of preoperative anxiety in surgical inpatients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to identify the levels of preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing elective surgery and the relationship between preoperative anxiety and social support. In addition, predictors of preoperative anxiety were studied in surgical inpatients. BACKGROUND: Major life changes are significant factors that cause anxiety; hospitalisation and surgery are among such changes. Social support may decrease the anxiety associated with surgery. DESIGN: This is a descriptive study that included 500 patients in a surgery clinic. METHODS: The data collected included: A Patient Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Surgical Anxiety Scale. The results were analysed using the Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS; Five hundred patients participated in this research: 59·6% were female, 54·6% were 65 years of age or older, 80·6% were married, 70·4% were literate and 62% of the patients had moderate level surgery. There was a significant relationship between the sociodemographic patient features, the level of preoperative anxiety (p < 0·05), the presence of social support and the severity of anxiety (p = 0·001). The age and level of anxiety were not significant factors. The mean anxiety score for all patients was 31·91 (SD 6·30) and the mean social support score was 66·38 (SD 13·69). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the preoperative anxiety of patients awaiting surgery was associated with demographic characteristics as well as social support resources. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Anxiety testing is feasible during the preoperative period. Such testing allows for the detection of patients with high anxiety, and for clinicians to take the appropriate steps to ameliorate this problem. Identification of patient anxiety allows for providing a focus on social support in an attempt to reduce the level of anxiety.

Risk of breast cancer, health beliefs and screening behaviour among Turkish academic women and housewives.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common forms of epithelial neoplasms type of cancer affecting women worldwide. The main objective of this study was to examine health beliefs, screening behavior and risk for developing BC in academic women and housewives in Turkey. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, a sample of 415 women were surveyed, composed of 166 academics and 249 housewives between the ages of 20-65 years. RESULTS: Risk of developing breast cancer, both five-year and lifetime, was higher in academic women than in housewives (P < 0.001). The frequency of BSE, CBE and mammography was higher in academic women than housewives. For academic women, perceptions related to benefit, self-efficacy, health motivation were significantly higher than housewives (t= 3.726, P < 0.001; t=8.165, P < 0.001, t=2.326; P < 0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that the risk for developing BC in academic women is higher than for housewives. Although academic women had more screening performance for early diagnosis of BC, it was still lower than 50%, below the desired level. Education programs should be aimed at increasing women's BC screening behaviors and the positively affect beliefs.