Exploring Disease Management Experiences of Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on disease management among individuals with type 2 diabetes and to explore their perspectives on COVID-19. This descriptive qualitative study included patients with diabetes, with a sample of 15 patients meeting the study criteria. The data were analyzed using code groups, which were then further categorized into main themes and subthemes. The main themes were: initial contact with the SARS-CoV-2 that is associated with COVID-19 illness changes in diabetes self-management behaviors; attempt at maintaining diabetes selfmanagement behaviors; and problems with accessing diabetes care. The study findings revealed several significant insights. Individuals with diabetes exhibited a fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2, which led to reduced levels of exercise and difficulties in managing blood sugar levels and insulin adjustments. Moreover, due to anxiety about COVID-19 infection, they postponed health check-ups, resulting in experiencing diabetes-related complications.

Sexual life experiences of women with diabetes: A systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies.

This study aims to systematically interpret and synthesize the data obtained from qualitative research about the sexual lives of women with diabetes. A thorough literature review was conducted between May and July 2023 across five electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, EBSCO, and Science Direct Embase. Eight studies published in English since 2000, which explored the sexual experiences of women with diabetes, were included in this assessment. The sexual experiences of women with diabetes were summarized under five main themes: perception of sexuality, changes in sexual life, adapting to the new normal, unmet care needs, and expectations. This review underlines the intricate nature of diabetic women's sexual experiences, acknowledging the substantial impact of diabetes-related complications and the associated emotional stress on their quality of life and intimate relationships. The study finds that awareness varies among women, with some adapting to the changes brought on by diabetes, while others remain uninformed about its impact on their sexual health. There is a pronounced need for integrating sexual health into diabetes care routines. Many women face unaddressed sexual health concerns and require education and empathetic care from knowledgeable health professionals.

Investigation of the relationship between the attitudes of patients with type 2 diabetes toward insulin therapy and complementary alternative medicine.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the attitudes of patients with type 2 diabetes toward insulin treatment and complementary alternative medicine and to examine the relationship between them. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was used in the study. A total of 293 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. The study data were collected by using a Descriptive Information Form, Complementary, Alternative and Conventional Medicine Attitude Scale (CACMAS), and the Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scale (ITAS). The factors related to the attitudes of patients with type 2 diabetes toward insulin were examined by using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: It was determined that 36.5% of the patients used CAM, 49.8% received insulin therapy, and that 38.6% received oral antidiabetic treatment. Patients' mean score on the total CACMAS was 106.8 ± 19.7, indicating a moderately positive attitude. Their mean score on the total ITAS was 57.1 ± 11.6, suggesting that they had a negative attitude toward insulin therapy. In regular drug use, negative attitudes toward insulin decreased (ß = -0.151, p < 0.001), and when dissatisfaction with conventional medicine increased, negative attitudes toward insulin increased, as well (ß = -0.432p<0.05). CONCLUSION: While almost all of the patients (93.9%) had a negative attitude toward insulin, they had a moderately positive attitude toward the use of CAM. A significant portion of them (36.5%) stated that they used CAM. There was a weak positive correlation between attitude toward CAM and negative attitude toward insulin.

Understanding the essence of care in nurses' lived stories: A phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Caring contains understanding and connecting with the individual and the process of providing the healing effect. Nurses' awareness of the science of care can be improved by analyzing and sharing their care experiences, including their healing power, with members of the profession. AIM: The aim of this study was to understand the meaning of care from nurses' experiences and the real-life stories told by nurses. METHOD: A descriptive phenomenological design was used. A total of 124 stories told by 23 nurses participating in the training of Human Caring Theory constituted the sample of the study. The content analysis of the stories was carried out in four stages with Giorgi's phenomenological method analysis. RESULTS: Three themes and six subthemes were derived from the 124 stories. Three main themes: (1) care holds mysteries, (2) care as praxis and (3) obstacles to caring relationship. The first main theme consisted of three subthemes; "Hearing the call for help", "Metaphysical presence" and "Discovery of the healing effect". The second main theme consisted of three subthemes; "Criticism of the objective approach", "Unforgettable experiences of carecaring experiences" and "Awareness of expertise". CONCLUSION: The use of stories in the training of Human Caring Theory that centers care, besides facilitating learning, has created awareness among nurses about the 'Concept of Care' and has been an important step towards developing awareness of care among nurses.

The effect of inadequately conducted compulsory distance education on the professional identity development process from nursing students' perspective: A phenomenological qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the effect of inadequately conducted compulsory distance education on the professional identity (PI) development process from nursing students' perspective. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study used a qualitative design based on Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The data were analyzed by using Van Manen's thematic analysis. RESULTS: The themes of the study were: (1) an inadequate, compulsory, uncertain, and difficult experience, (2) negative impact on PI development. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It is important for educators to realize that the PI development of nursing students is affected during the distance education process. In this context, students can be included in clinical practice in small groups before graduation in addition to online learning in terms of PI development.

Web-Based Training and Telephone Follow-up of Patients With Heart Failure: Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of Web-based training and telephone follow-up on symptom burden and health status in patients with heart failure. Patient training and postdischarge follow-up are necessary to improve symptom management and quality of life in patients with heart failure. In Turkey, Web-based education and phone monitoring are not very common yet. In this parallel randomized controlled trial, patients were allocated to a control group (n = 32) or an intervention group (n = 32). The control group received routine care, and the intervention group was administered the following interventions in addition to routine care: Web-based training, four-session telephone follow-up, and one text message weekly. All results regarding symptom management and quality of life were assessed beginning and at the 12th week. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist was used. In the 12th week after discharge, patients in the intervention group showed a significant improvement in terms of symptom burden and health status compared with the control group.

The effect of using standardized patients in the Simulated Hospital Environment on first-year nursing students psychomotor skills learning.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of using standardized patients in the Simulated Hospital Environment on first-year nursing students' psychomotor skills. METHODS: This semi-experimental study was carried out in the one-group pretest-posttest design. Students performed the psychomotor skills in the Non-Simulated Clinical Skill Laboratory and Simulated Hospital Environment. The skill performances of the students were evaluated with the Objective Structured Clinical Assessment form. At the same time, students' views on both environments were received. RESULTS: Students' mean Objective Structured Clinical Assessment score in the Simulated Hospital Environment (69.42 ± 10.94) was significantly higher than their mean score in the Non-Simulated Clinical Skill Laboratory (57.07 ± 10.05) (p < 0.05). The differences in scores were particularly significant in the stages of meeting the patient, performing the procedure in accordance with the steps and ending the procedure. The majority of the students stated that they could not do some applications in the Non-Simulated Clinical Skill Laboratory in a similar way to the hospital clinic (85.9%), and they felt like they were in a real hospital clinic in the Simulated Hospital Environment (100%). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that students developed psychomotor skills more fully in a learning environment designed in a similar way to a real hospital clinic setting.

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.

The effectiveness of strategies similar to the Magnet model to create positive work environments on nurse satisfaction.

AIM: The objective of this study was to identify the satisfaction levels of nurses with positive environment initiatives and positive management strategies. METHOD: In total, 235 and 259 nurses participated in the study before and after the application of the initiatives and strategies, respectively. Strategies adopted from the magnet model to create positive work environments and management styles were executed according to the forces of magnetism. Data related to satisfaction were collected twice, once before and once after the strategies to create positive working environments were implemented. RESULTS: The rates of working environment satisfaction in the nurses' department were 57.07% in 2011 and 69.01% in 2013. The rate of satisfaction with governance differed significantly between 2011 and 2013, especially in terms of the merit system, equity and equality, information flow between the administration and the employees, and the influence of the nursing managers on institutional decision making. CONCLUSION: This study showed that 24 months after the implementation of these strategies, nurse satisfaction with their work environment and management style increased significantly.

Training needs of clinical nurses at an university hospital in Turkey.

The learning needs of clinical nurses should be determined and evaluated at regular intervals for evaluate the continuity and the efficiency of education. The descriptive study was conducted to determine the training needs of nurses working in an educational hospital between February 1st 2012 and May 1st 2012. It was determined that, among the training topics related to patient care, those demanded the most were cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, fluid-electrolyte balance, safe drug administration and wound Care. As for the topics related to management skills, the nurses stated that they needed training especially on stress and crisis management. The results of the present study suggest that in-service training is necessary in the clinical field and training programs, which should be aimed to ensure the participation of; nurses in in-service training sessions to the maximum extent possible, are needed.