Self-efficacy level among patients with type 2 diabetes living in rural areas.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the disease management self-efficacy level for patients with type 2 diabetes living in a rural area of Turkey. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 216 adult patients with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected between April and June of 2015 using the Self-Efficacy Scale for Type 2 Diabetes. The relationship between independent variables and self-efficacy level was evaluated with t-test and one-way ANOVA in independent groups. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of self-efficacy level. RESULTS: Diabetes patients living in rural areas had a moderate level of self-efficacy. Female and unemployed patients, and those who had a low educational level, who spent their lives in a village and did not receive disease management training constituted a risk group in terms of self-efficacy. The multiple regression analysis demonstrated that using oral antidiabetics or insulin (β= –0.122), lack of education on diabetes complications (β= –0.125) and insufficient self-management of diabetes (β= –0.484) reduced the self-efficacy score. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic control parameters suggest that type diabetes patients living in rural areas of Turkey had a poor disease management level and a moderate self-efficacy level. Measures to improve the self-efficacy levels call for a diabetes education program that includes lifestyle modifications and available resources in rural areas, as well as more frequent monitoring of patients living in rural areas.

Mastalgia and associated factors: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Mastalgia is a common and painful experience among women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of breast pain, characteristics of the pain, and factors associated with breast pain, particularly those that can be changed. METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised women aged from 18 to 65 years. In total, 752 women were included. Risk factors for breast pain were determined using logistic regression analysis with the entry model, and the risk factors for periodic and non-periodic breast pain were assessed using logistic regression analysis with the backward model. RESULTS: Results revealed that the following were significant risk factors: age between 35 and 50 years (OR, 1.614; CI, 1110-2347), university graduate (OR, 3.207; CI, 1.874-5.490), BMI of >30 (OR, 2.068; CI, 1.163-3.674), excessive use of salt (OR, 1,687; CI, 1.075-2 .647), weight gain in the last 5 years (OR, 1.411; CI, 1018-1955), use of a small bra (OR, 3.260; CI, 2204-4821), and use of a large bra (OR, 1.896; CI, 1276-2817). CONCLUSION: Weight control, restriction of salt intake, and selection of a suitable brassiere are important for preventing and managing mastalgia.

The Impact of Comprehensive School Nursing Services on Students' Academic Performance.

Introduction: School nursing services should be evaluated through health and academic outcomes of students; however, it is observed that the number of studies in this field is limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of comprehensive school nursing services provided to 4th grade primary school students on academic performance of students. Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted with 31 students attending a randomly selected school in economic disadvantaged area in Turky. Correlation analysis, repeated measures analyses of variance, multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data with SPSS software. Results: At the end of school nursing practices, an increase was occurred in students' academic achievement grades whereas a decrease was occurred in absenteeism and academic procrastination behaviors. Whilst it was determined that nursing interventions including treatment/ procedure and surveillance was associated to the decrease of absenteeism, it also was discovered that the change in the health status of the student after nursing interventions was related to the increase of the academic achievement grade and the decrease of the academic procrastination behavior score. Conclusion: In this study, the conclusion that comprehensive school nursing services contributed positively to the academic performance of students has been reached. In addition, it can be suggested that effective school nursing services should include services such as acute-chronic disease treatment, first aid, health screening, health improvement-protection, health education, guidance and counseling and case management.

[The relation between pain and pain beliefs and sociodemographic-economic characteristics in an adult population]. / Yetiskin nüfusta agri ve agri inançlarinin sosyo-demografik ekonomik özelliklerle iliskisi.

OBJECTIVES: In order to control pain, which is a prevalent problem, gathering knowledge regarding pain and pain beliefs is crucial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between pain and pain beliefs and the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of an adult population. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was completed with 131 individuals aged between 18-65 years. A questionnaire evaluating sociodemographic and economic status and pain characteristics and the Pain Beliefs Scale were used for data collection. RESULTS: 78.6% of the research group experienced pain within the last year; of them, 38.8% suffered from chronic pain. According to the results of logistic regression analysis, the risk factors were determined as age between 30-65 years (odds ratio [OR]: 0.215; p=0.008) and graduation from elementary school and lower education level (OR=3.427; p=0.021) for experiencing lifelong frequent pain; being female (OR=3.003; p=0.016) and married (OR=4.550; p=0.005) for experiencing pain within the last year; and age between 30-65 years (OR=3.027; p=0.027) and lower income (OR=4.932; p=0.001) for chronic pain. The organic and psychological pain beliefs scores were similar. Sociodemographic and economic determinants were not significant for the organic subscale (p>0.05), but lower income determined 11% of the psychological subscale (R2=0.115; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic and economic status were determined to be risk factors for experiencing pain, and cultural factors related to pain beliefs warrant investigation.

Reproductive history, socioeconomic status and disability in the women aged 65 years or older in Turkey.

Pregnancy and childbirth are an important physiological and emotional phenomenon in their lives for most women and studies have shown that this process may have a significant impact on their health at later ages. The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between functional disabilities in women over the age of 65 and their reproductive history and socioeconomic status. This is a cross-sectional study. The study group consisted of 543 women aged 65 or over. A general questionnaire and the Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ) were used to collect data with face-to-face interview in home visits. Of the women 79.2% have disability. First childbirth was experienced at the average age of 19.6+/-3.3 and the average age at which the women experienced their last delivery was 32.5+/-6.3. Parity was 4.1+/-1.7. Advanced age, being widowed and illiterate, less income, being outside of the middle class and having more than four children are important determinants for later life disability. The study highlights the importance of focusing not just on the short-term effects of childbearing and socioeconomic factors, but also of taking into account the possibility of long-term effects on disability in older women.