The Relationship Between Digital Game Addiction and Levels of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents Receiving Cancer Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents diagnosed with cancer are vulnerable to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between digital game addiction and levels of anxiety and depression in adolescents receiving cancer treatment. METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional study was carried out with 120 adolescents aged 12-17 years who were receiving cancer treatment. Data were collected using the Digital Game Addiction Scale (DGAS-7) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analyzed using independent-samples t test, 1-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and simple linear regression. RESULTS: The mean age of the adolescents participating in the study was 15.21 ± 1.64 years. The mean DGAS-7 score was 15.19 ± 5.58, whereas the mean HADS Anxiety subscale score was 8.54 ± 4.33, and the mean HADS Depression subscale score was 7.72 ± 3.96. A positive, statistically significant relationship was found between the DGAS-7 mean score and the HADS Anxiety and Depression subscale mean scores (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: As the addiction levels increased in adolescents diagnosed with cancer, their anxiety and depression levels also increased. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Health professionals should be mindful that in adolescents diagnosed and treated for cancer, digital game addiction and levels of anxiety and depression may mutually reinforce each other.

Prediction of family-centered care on the unmet care needs of parents of pediatric oncology patients and their psychosocial problems.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It was aimed to determine the predictive power of family-centered care of parents of children with cancer on their unmet care needs and psychosocial problems (anxiety, depression, stress). This study was conducted as a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study. DESIGN/METHODS: The study was conducted on 136 parents at a university hospital between January and September 2023, involving parents of children receiving care at the pediatric oncology clinic. Data collection instruments included an Information Form, Family Inventory of Needs Pediatric II (FINPED-II), Family-Centered Care Scale (FCCS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 28, employing Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression to assess the relationships between variables. RESULTS: The study revealed significant positive correlations between Family-Centered Care and Met Needs (r = .676, p < .001) and significant negative correlations between Met Needs and Stress scores (r = -.256, p < .001). Additionally, there were positive correlations between Anxiety and Depression scores (r = .700, p < .001), Anxiety and Stress scores (r = .768, p < .001), and Depression and Stress scores (r = .835, p < .001). Family-centered care significantly predicted Met Needs (p < .001) and accounted for 47% of the variation in Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Family Inventory of Needs scores. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight that family-centered care significantly predicts Met Needs, emphasizing its pivotal role in supporting parents of children with cancer. These findings underscore the importance of family-centered care in pediatric oncology, but also point to the need for further studies to address identified limitations and provide a comprehensive understanding of this complex healthcare dynamic.

The Effect of Psychosocial Support Videos Provided by the Community on Disease Attitudes and Symptoms of Pediatric Oncology Patients: Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of psychosocial support videos provided by the community on the attitudes of pediatric oncology patients aged between 10 and 18 years toward their illness and treatment-related symptoms. DATA SOURCES: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted with 52 pediatric oncology patients aged between 10 and 18. The data were collected using the Information Form, Child Attitude Towards Illness Scale (CATIS), and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). When the control group received standard care, the intervention group received psychosocial support videos provided by the community at the beginning of the week for 1 month. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the implemented intervention positively affected pediatric patients' symptom management, psychological well-being, and attitudes toward their illness. Considering that today's adolescents have grown up in the age of technology and show great interest in technology and media use, it is clear that psychosocial support videos may attract the attention of this age group. Producing and sharing similar content for other children with similar health problems may positively affect the psychosocial health outcomes of pediatric patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: It has been found that it is beneficial to include community-supported psychosocial support in the nursing care of pediatric oncology patients. For this reason, it is recommended that nurses actively participate in developing psychosocial support strategies and take the lead in creating and making the content accessible.

The effect of a peer-assisted video-based training programme and counselling to reduce anxiety in children newly diagnosed with cancer: Non-randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of 'peer-assisted video-based education programme' (VTPA) and counselling to reduce anxiety in children newly diagnosed with cancer. METHODS: A non-randomised controlled trial design with repeated measures was conducted. The sample of the study consisted of 50 children between the ages of 9 and 18 who were newly diagnosed with cancer in the hospital. Intervention and control groups were created. Children in the intervention group received both VTPA training and counselling practice 3 days a week for 2 months. Data were collected with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. The basal assessment in the research was the first meeting with the child, with interval assessments 1 month after, 2 months after and 3 months after the education. RESULTS: In the study, it was determined that the state anxiety mean scores of the children in the PAVEP and control groups differed over time (p < 0.05). However, it was determined that there was no difference between the trait anxiety mean scores of the children (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: VTPA with peer assistance and counselling application supported the reduction of state anxiety in children newly diagnosed with cancer over time.

Investigation of coronavirus anxiety and caregiving burden among the parents of children with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak: A descriptive and cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the coronavirus anxiety and caregiving burden of parents of children with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study, including 136 parents of children with cancer, was administered through an online survey at a university hospital from 1 to 31 January 2021. Participants completed a questionnaire form, the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: This study identified a significant difference in the caregiving burden scores of parents according to whether their relatives had been diagnosed with COVID-19, whether they were exposed to coronavirus in their environment and whether their children had other illnesses. A significant difference in the coronavirus anxiety scores of parents was observed according to their child's sex and the time elapsed since their child's cancer diagnosis. No correlation was identified between the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale scores and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale scores. CONCLUSION: Oncology nurses and other health professionals should be aware of and consider the factors that influence the caregiving burden and coronavirus-related anxiety experienced by parents of children with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The effect of using a kaleidoscope during central venous catheter dressing changes on pain and anxiety in children with cancer: A randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Many medical interventions, including the dressing changes of central venous catheters, a common procedure used for children with cancer, cause pain and anxiety in children. This can adversely affect their care and recovery. This study aims to evaluate the effect of using a kaleidoscope on reducing pain and anxiety in children with cancer during central venous catheter dressing changes. METHODS: This was a parallel randomised controlled trial with 60 children aged 6-12 diagnosed with cancer who were placed either in a kaleidoscope group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). Each child's anxiety was evaluated by the child using the Children's Fear Scale before, during, and after a central venous catheter dressing change, and each child's pain during and after the procedure was evaluated by the child using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WB-FACES). Each child's heart rate and oxygen saturation were measured with a pulse oximeter device before, during, and after central venous catheter dressing changes. RESULTS: Pain and anxiety scores were significantly lower in the kaleidoscope group than in the control group during and after central venous catheter dressing changes (both p < 0.001). During the procedure, the oxygen saturation values were higher (p <0 .05), and the heart rate was lower (p < 0.001) in the kaleidoscope group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Distraction with a kaleidoscope was an effective method for pain and anxiety relief during central venous catheter dressing changes in children. CLINICALTRIALS: gov NCT04924023.

Examination of the professional values of the nurses and the associated factors.

PURPOSE: This study is conducted to examine the professional values of nurses and their personal and professional characteristics affecting these values. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 369 nurses completed a questionnaire on personal information and nursing professional values scale (NPVS-R). FINDINGS: The total scores of the nurses on the NPVS-R were found to be 100.87 ± 21.07, and the item mean scores were found to be 3.87 ± 0.81. When the scores for individual scale factors were examined, the highest scores were observed for the "caring" (4.02 ± 0.87) and "activism" (3.90 ± 0.89) factors. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The fact that nurses are aware of their individual values and how these values affect their behavior can be a guide in human-focused value nursing planning.

Efficacy of Breastfeeding on Babies' Pain During Vaccinations.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this randomized controlled experimental study was to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding on the pain of babies during vaccination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 100 babies who complied with the sampling criteria between July and November 2012. The babies breastfed from their mothers 5 minutes before, during, and after the vaccine injections. The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), duration of crying, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were evaluated before, during, and after the vaccine injections. Data were evaluated by descriptive statistics, chi-square, Cronbach's alpha consistency coefficient, independent sample t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The babies in the control group experienced severe pain and the babies in the breastfeeding group felt moderate pain during the vaccine injections (p < 0.05). The NIPS score of the babies in the breastfeeding group was lower than the control group during the vaccine injections. The breastfeeding group spent less time crying, and had lower heart rates and higher oxygen saturation values during vaccine injections Conclusion: Breastfeeding prevented increased heart rates, duration of crying, NIPS, falling oxygen saturation, and reduced pain during the invasive procedures in newborns more than control group.