Effects of technology usage on the addictive behaviors of secondary school students.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between technology usage and technology addiction among secondary school students. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive research was conducted in April 2018 with 840 students in Eastern Turkey. FINDINGS: The average Internet and digital-gaming addiction scores of the participating students were found to be significantly higher among those who used computers, smartphones, and tablets daily and for long periods of time. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Using technological devices regularly and for long periods of time increases the level of Internet and digital-gaming addiction. Thus, it is important to increase students' awareness of the need to use technological devices appropriately.

Factors affecting substance use and self-efficacy status of students in eastern Turkey.

This descriptive cross-sectional research sample was consisted of 613 high school students in Eastern Turkey. Data were collected by using the Questionnaire on Substance Use and its Causes and Self-Efficacy in the Prevention of Substance Abuse Scale (SEAPSAS). Data were analyzed with percentiles, Chi-Square, ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis, correlation and regression. Almost 40% of the students had tried smoking and 21.7% of them smoked sometimes or regularly. The mean age of students' first cigarette use was 13.5. More than 60% of the students had tried alcohol and almost 50% of them drink alcohol sometimes or regularly. The mean score of SEAPSAS was 93.61 ± 18.99. Lower self-efficacy scores were found in males, in students who perceived themselves as unsuccessful at school, in those with negative family and friendship relations, in students who smoked, drank alcohol, who had a drug user in the family and who experienced traumatic events in a lifetime.

Factors affecting substance use and self-efficacy status of students in eastern Turkey / Fatores que afetam o uso de substâncias e o estado de autoeficácia dos estudantes no leste da Turquia

Abstract This descriptive cross-sectional research sample was consisted of 613 high school students in Eastern Turkey. Data were collected by using the Questionnaire on Substance Use and its Causes and Self-Efficacy in the Prevention of Substance Abuse Scale (SEAPSAS). Data were analyzed with percentiles, Chi-Square, ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis, correlation and regression. Almost 40% of the students had tried smoking and 21.7% of them smoked sometimes or regularly. The mean age of students' first cigarette use was 13.5. More than 60% of the students had tried alcohol and almost 50% of them drink alcohol sometimes or regularly. The mean score of SEAPSAS was 93.61 ± 18.99. Lower self-efficacy scores were found in males, in students who perceived themselves as unsuccessful at school, in those with negative family and friendship relations, in students who smoked, drank alcohol, who had a drug user in the family and who experienced traumatic events in a lifetime.

Resumo Esta amostra de pesquisa descritiva transversal foi composta por 613 estudantes do ensino médio no leste da Turquia. Os dados foram coletados por meio do Questionário de Uso de Substâncias e suas Causas e Autoeficácia na Escala de Prevenção de Abuso de Substâncias (SEAPSAS). Os dados foram analisados com percentis, Qui-Quadrado, ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis, correlação e regressão. Quase 40% dos estudantes tentaram fumar e 21,7% deles fumaram às vezes ou regularmente. A idade média do primeiro uso de cigarro pelos estudantes foi de 13,5. Mais de 60% dos estudantes experimentaram álcool e quase 50% deles bebem álcool às vezes ou regularmente. O escore médio do SEAPSAS foi de 93,61 ± 18,99. Menores escores de autoeficácia foram encontrados em homens, em estudantes que se consideravam mal-sucedidos na escola, naqueles com relações familiares e de amizade negativas, em estudantes que fumavam, bebiam álcool, usuários de drogas na família e que vivenciavam eventos traumáticos na vida.

Weaning practices of mothers in eastern Turkey / Práticas maternas de desmame no leste da Turquia

Abstract Objective: The study aimed to determine the practices used by breastfeeding mothers to wean their children from the breast. Method: This qualitative-quantitative research was conducted with mothers whose children were registered the pediatric clinics of a state hospital between June and September 2016. In accordance with a purposeful sampling method, 232 mothers of children between the ages of 2 and 5 years were included in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire with demographic characteristics of mothers as well as their weaning practices. The data obtained were analyzed with a computer-assisted program using number and percentage distributions. Results: The mean breastfeeding duration was 19.00 ± 7.11 months. It was determined that the majority of mothers (56.5%) used traditional methods for weaning their children. These included applying substances with a bad taste (58.1%) to their breasts, covering their breasts with various materials (26.2%) to make the child not want to nurse anymore, and using a pacifier or feeding bottle (9.2%) to substitute for the mother's breast. Conclusions: It was observed that more than half of the mothers were used some traditional practices that could cause trauma in their children, instead of natural weaning.

Resumo Objetivo: O estudo visou determinar as práticas utilizadas por mães em amamentação para desmamar seus filhos do peito. Método: Essa pesquisa qualitativa-quantitativa foi realizada com mães cujos filhos foram registrados em clínicas pediátricas de um hospital estadual entre junho-setembro de 2016. De acordo com o método de amostragem proposital, 232 mães de crianças com idades entre 2 e 5 anos foram incluídas no estudo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas presenciais que utilizam um questionário com características demográficas das mães, bem como suas práticas de desmame. Os dados obtidos foram analisados com um programa de computador que utiliza distribuições numéricas e percentuais. Resultados: A duração média de amamentação foi de 19 ± 7,11 meses. Foi determinado que a maior parte das mães (56,5%) utilizou métodos tradicionais para desmamar seus filhos. Esses métodos incluíram aplicar substâncias com gosto ruim (58,1%) em seus seios, cobrir seus seios com materiais diversos (26,2%) para fazer com que seu filho deixe de querer mamar e utilizar chupeta ou mamadeira (9,2%) para substituir o peito da mãe. Conclusões: Foi observado que mais da metade das mães estavam utilizando algumas práticas tradicionais que podem causar trauma em seus filhos, em vez do desmame natural.

Weaning practices of mothers in eastern Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the practices used by breastfeeding mothers to wean their children from the breast. METHOD: This qualitative-quantitative research was conducted with mothers whose children were registered the pediatric clinics of a state hospital between June and September 2016. In accordance with a purposeful sampling method, 232 mothers of children between the ages of 2 and 5 years were included in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire with demographic characteristics of mothers as well as their weaning practices. The data obtained were analyzed with a computer-assisted program using number and percentage distributions. RESULTS: The mean breastfeeding duration was 19.00±7.11 months. It was determined that the majority of mothers (56.5%) used traditional methods for weaning their children. These included applying substances with a bad taste (58.1%) to their breasts, covering their breasts with various materials (26.2%) to make the child not want to nurse anymore, and using a pacifier or feeding bottle (9.2%) to substitute for the mother's breast. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that more than half of the mothers were used some traditional practices that could cause trauma in their children, instead of natural weaning.

Effects of Role-Playing Scenarios on the Self-efficacy of Students in Resisting Against Substance Addiction: A Pilot Study.

During the first phases of adolescent development, young people have little self-efficacy and resistance against substance use. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of role-playing scenarios on the self-efficacy of students in resisting substance use. A pre test and post test study design was used with a single group. The study was carried out with 245 secondary school students. The scenario-based training, developed by the researchers, was presented by the school counselors once a week for 4 weeks. For this purpose, a booklet of scenarios was prepared for the teachers. The role-playing scenarios were intended to improve adolescents' abilities to say "no" to substance offers, to prevent them from becoming addicted to certain substances, and to call for help if needed. The data of the study were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Self-Efficacy for Adolescences Protecting Substance Abuse Scale . The obtained data were assessed using percentages, chi-square, t test, and F test in the SPSS software. Results showed that, after the training, the mean score in the Self-Efficacy for Adolescences Protecting Substance Abuse Scale increased significantly (103.20 ± 20.00) compared with before the training (92.11 ± 17.08) ( P < .05). Short-term outcomes of the class-based scenario training were observed to be effective in the development of students' self-efficacy to resist the temptations of substance use.

Effect of baby oil on pruritus, sleep quality, and quality of life in hemodialysis patients: pretest-post-test model with control groups.

AIM: To assess the effect of baby oil on pruritus, sleep quality, and quality of life in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: This pretest-post-test model with control groups study was conducted in HD units in two different provinces in eastern Turkey. The study group consisted of a total of 70 patients receiving HD treatment who met the inclusion criteria, 35 being in the intervention group and 35 in the control group. After the patients in both groups were informed about the study, they were administered a questionnaire, the Severity Scale, Visual Analog Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale. Following the administration of baby oil to the patients in the intervention group three times a week for a period of 1 month, the same scales were repeated to explore their pruritic status, sleep quality, and quality of life. The same scales were repeated also for the patients in the control group 1 month later but without administering any baby oil. RESULTS: When the Itch Severity Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and SF-36 Quality of Life Physical and Mental Component scores of the patients in the control and intervention groups before and after the intervention were compared, the differences in the change were found to be statistically significant in favor of the intervention group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was found in this study that administration of baby oil had positive effects on itching, quality of life, and sleep quality in HD patients who had itching complaints.

Effectiveness of a multistimulant home-based program on cognitive function of older adults.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a multistimulant home-based program on cognitive function among older adults. This study was conducted in northeastern Turkey between March and June 2010. It was planned as an experimental versus control two-group design and carried out on 96 (intervention group = 48, control group = 48) participants. The intervention and control groups were similar regarding sex, education, partner status, and continuous drug use. Data were collected with a Standardized Mini Mental Test, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the Beck Anxiety Scale. Each senior received a total of 10 home visits on a once-per-week basis. Results for the intervention group showed that the Mini Mental State Test scores of the participants had statistically increased, and the Beck Anxiety and the GDS scores showed a decrease. The study found an association between the multistimulant home-based intervention program and cognitive function.

The effectiveness of a stimulation program on cognitive capacity among individuals older than 60.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a multistimulant home-based intervention program on cognitive function, anxiety, and depression among older adults with cognitive impairment. This research is quasi-experimental and was designed in an effort to increase the cognitive capacity of individuals above the age of 60 with reduced cognitive capacities. Each senior received a total of seven home visits, including intervention conversation, newspaper/ book reading, painting/handcraft activities, and physical exercise. The Mini Mental State Test scores of the participants statistically increased, whereas the Beck Anxiety and the Geriatric Depression Scale scores showed a decrease (p < .05) after the intervention. Findings demonstrate that the multistimulant approach to improve cognitive capacity among individuals older than 60 years was successful.

Cognitive and dynamic effects of training given to women at risk of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is an important public health problem. Although the disease is widespread, the prognosis is good, especially with early diagnosis. For this to occur, a consciousness of protection of breast health for all women is necessary, and risk groups need to be particularly targeted. AIM: This study was conducted to determine dynamic and cognitive effects of training given to women in a risk group. METHOD: This study that is planned as an intervention study has been carried out in a city that is on the eastern part of Turkey between February and June in 2009. The data were gathered through a question form aimed at diagnosing the knowledge and applications of women about breast cancer, and hospital reports of women and control lists of BSE skills. The women in the risk group were given five sessions of training split into groups of 12-13 persons. For the purpose of realizing the cognitive effects of the training, pre-test and post test measures were assessed. The data were evaluated using number percentages and the McNemar test. RESULTS: At the end of the training program, compared to previous training period, women's knowledge, at the cognitive level, related with the risk factors, symptoms and the early diagnosis methods of the breast cancer was seen to have been expressively increased. As for effects at the dynamic level, one month after the training program had been completed, women re-evaluated and 77.5% had conducted breast self-examination (BSE) at least one time, and 65.0% of them have passed through medical breast diagnosis and scanning tests by applying to hospital. CONCLUSION: In a study aimed to increase the conscious level and awareness related with breast health in women, variation at both cognitive and dynamic levels were evident at the end of the training program.

Effect of motivational interviewing on smoking cessation in pregnant women.

AIM: This paper is a report of an evaluation of the effects of a motivational interviewing smoking cessation programme on smoking rates of pregnant women. BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is an important public health problem. Smoking cessation programmes provide women with an opportunity to learn how to protect their own health and that of their developing babies. METHOD: An intervention study was conducted between December 2007 and June 2008. Thirty-eight pregnant and literate women who were smoking at least one cigarette each day and had not reached their 16th week of pregnancy applied to participate in the research at the prenatal unit of a public hospital. A total of eight home visits was made for each woman with 12- to 13-day intervals between visits; five visits were for intervention, with three follow-up visits at 1-month intervals. The intervention content was based on the transtheoretical model. The data were collected using an evaluation form, carbon monoxide level in expired air, cotinine measurements and a Self-efficacy Scale. FINDINGS: A total of 39.5% of pregnant smokers gave up smoking; a further 44.7% reduced their smoking by 60% from their starting rate. The rate of passive smoking before the intervention (86.8%) decreased to 55.3%. The mean (sd) pre-intervention self-efficacy score was 61.36 (12.61), and it increased to 93.34 (27.04) after the intervention. CONCLUSION: The success of this programme shows the need for further development and application of similar programmes by nurses and midwives working in primary health care and antenatal settings.