The effects of perceived organizational support on attitudes toward medical errors in surgical nurses: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aims to determine the effects of perceived organizational support on attitudes toward medical errors in surgical nurses. BACKGROUND: Nurses exhibit high performance in a work environment that supports, satisfies, and motivates them. Organizational support is one of the factors affecting the work environments of nurses. A strong nursing and hospital leadership supports the daily professional practices and well-being of nurses and is important in creating a positive work environment for nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population of this cross-sectional study was composed of nurses (N = 414) in the surgical clinics of the Turgut Özal Medical Center. To reach the necessary sample size, the purposive sampling method, which is a nonprobability sampling method, was used. The data were collected using a personal information form, the Perceived Organizational Support Scale and the Scale of Attitudes toward Medical Errors. RESULTS: It was determined that 91.1% of the participants had positive attitudes toward the importance and reporting of medical errors and moderate perceived organizational support (3.04 ± 0.67). The organizational support perceived by the participants did not have a statistically significant effect on their attitudes toward medical errors (ß = 0.015; p = 0.865). The multiple linear regression model established in the study revealed that education level and previous medical error status were significant predictors of the attitudes of the participants toward medical errors. CONCLUSION: It was determined that surgical nurses had positive attitudes toward the importance and reporting of medical errors and moderate perceived organizational support levels, and perceived organizational support did not significantly affect attitudes toward medical errors in surgical nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND HEALTH POLICY: In this study, it was determined that the perceived organizational support levels of surgical nurses did not have a significant effect on their attitudes toward medical errors. Assuming that adequate organizational support will reduce medical error rates, it is considered important to develop and implement policies to increase organizational support levels. Likewise, the use of safety reporting systems should be expanded to reduce medical error rates, reports should be used only to prevent and reduce risks, and systems and strategies should be developed instead of blaming individuals. In addition to the reporting of confirmed medical errors to ensure patient safety, the reporting of so-called "near misses" is also very important. For this reason, institutional support should be provided regarding the importance of "near miss" events in error reporting. Necessary practices should be provided to identify, report, correct, and prevent these events.

Applying the health belief model to the rational use of drugs for hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Non-rational use of drugs is a common problem among people with chronic disease. The Health Belief Model (HBM) can develop beliefs and behaviors related to rational drug use. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of HBM-based training on the rational use of drugs in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 132 people receiving hemodialysis treatment. The data were collected using a Demographic Survey and the Rational Use of Drugs Scale (RUDS). Patients in the study groups were provided with HBM-based rational use of drugs training. The first training session took an average of 30-35 min for each patient, and the second (summary) took an average of 15-20 min RESULTS: The mean RUDS pretest score was 60.29 ± 10.17 in the intervention group and 62.85 ± 9.94 in the control group. The mean RUDS posttest scores were 78.80 ± 8.16 in the intervention group and 63.48 ± 9.77 in the control group. The difference between the pretest scores in these groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), whereas the difference between the posttest scores was found to be significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It was observed that training based on the HBM increased the RUD scores. Thus, HBM may be recommended for use as a guide for rational drug use training, especially for patients undergoing hemodialysis. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The HBM can be an effective and cost-efficient strategy for standardized rational drug use training and supporting hemodialysis patients.

Effects on Anxiety and Vital Signs of the Emotional Freedom Technique and Music Before Surgery for Lumbar Disc Hernia.

Context: Patients hospitalized for surgical treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) are adversely affected psychologically, with fury, anger, helplessness, anxiety, and depression being observed in patients. Anxiety in particular is a common problem, with an incidence of around 90%. Objective: This study intended to determine the effects on patients' anxiety and vital signs of the emotional freedom technique (EFT) and music before LDH surgery. Design: The research team designed a quasi-experimental study. Setting: The research was carried out in the neurosurgery clinic of a university hospital in Turkey. Participants: Participants were 162 adult patients at the clinic who had LDH surgery between February 2018 and September 2019. Intervention: Using the nonprobability sampling method, participants were allocated to one of three groups: (1) 54 to the music group, an intervention group; (2) 54 patients to the EFT group, an intervention group; and (3) 54 to the control group. Outcome Measures: The Patient Information Form, the Life Findings Form, the Subjective Units of the Distress Scale (SUDS), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety (STAI-S), were used to collect data. In the data analysis, the numbers, percentages, means, standard deviations, and chi-square values were found, and the t test and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in the dependent and independent groups, respectively. The Tukey test was used for further analysis. Results: EFT and music were determined to significantly reduce participants' state anxiety and subjective discomfort (P < .001). EFT significantly reduced the pulse and respiratory rates and the systolic blood pressure, and music significantly lowered the diastolic and systolic blood pressures (P < .05). Further analyses showed that EFT was more effective on state anxiety and reducing the respiratory rate than music. Conclusions: Both music and EFT before LDH surgery reduced anxiety and regulated vital signs, and EFT was found to be more effective than music in regulating anxiety and respiratory rate.

Effect of Music on Fatigue, Comfort, and Vital Signs in Patients After Liver Transplant Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine the effect of music therapy on fatigue, comfort and vital signs of the liver transplant patients. The study sample comprised 120 adult patients (60 in the experimental and 60 in the control group) who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. In the experimental group, the researcher performed music therapy. After applying music therapy once to patients for 30 minutes, their fatigue, comfort, and vital signs were evaluated. No treatment was performed in the control group. According to music therapy follow-ups after liver transplantation, mean scores of fatigue levels were lower, comfort levels were higher, and vital signs were normal, with a statistical significance in the experimental group compared with the control group in all measurements before and after music therapy (P < .001). The study should be repeated using different parameters.

Emotions and coping methods of Turkish parents of children with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted with the aim to determine the emotions and coping methods of Turkish parents whose children were diagnosed with cancer. METHODS: Data were collected through in-person, in-depth interviews with 12 parents (8 mothers, 4 fathers). The semi-structured interview form was developed based on Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's model of the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) with the addition of questions on coping methods. Data interpretation proceeded through three phases: superficial reading, structural analysis and comprehensive understanding. RESULTS: All the parents made statements indicating their devastation while expressing their feelings at the moment they learned of the diagnosis. After overcoming the first shock, most thought it was a false diagnosis, and some thought it was a test from God. The parents were angry mostly with the doctors, themselves, their spouses and God. All the parents participating in the study stated that they had regrets about the past. Most engaged in more emotion-oriented and fewer problem-focused coping efforts. However, some parents used negative coping methods. CONCLUSION: These parents need help from healthcare professionals to come to terms with their grief.

Comparison of abdominal and arm areas in patients receiving subcutaneous heparin in terms of development of pain, hematoma, and ecchymosis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the abdominal and arm areas in the patients using subcutaneous heparin in terms of pain, hematoma, and ecchymosis development. As a result of subcutaneous heparin injections, complications such as pain, ecchymosis, and hematoma may develop in the injection site. The injection site chosen for injection is one of the factors that are effective on complications. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 54 patients at orthopedics-traumatology and cardiothoracic surgery clinics of a university hospital. The data were collected using a patient description and follow-up form, visual analog scale, transparent film, and a chronometer. Ecchymosis and hematoma were evaluated at the 48th hour after injection, whereas the pain level was evaluated right after the injection, and the pain duration was evaluated during the injection. The rate of pain in the arm area was statistically higher. Differences between the areas in terms of level and duration of pain and development and size of ecchymosis and hematoma were not significant. More pain developed due to heparin injection in the arm area than in the abdominal area. No differences were observed between the areas in terms of level and duration of pain, development and size of ecchymosis, or development and size of hematoma.

The role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in identifying contrast induced nephropathy development in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in detecting the development of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing contrast imaging in an emergency department setting. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted at the emergency department of Uludag University, Turkey, between January 1 and July 1, 2012, and comprised patients who underwent a diagnostic thoracic or abdominal Computed Tomography examination with contrast agent. At 2 hours and 72 hours after the scan, control urea, creatinine, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values were recorded. Plasma lipocalin measurement was performed using fluorescence-detected immunoassay method. An increase in serum creatinine of more than 0.5 mg/dl or 25% elevation from the basal level was considered to be a marker for the occurrence of contrast-induced nephropathy. SPSS 13 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 80 subjects in the study, 60 (75%) were cases and 20 (25%) were controls. Contrast-induced nephropathy did not develop in any of the patients, and, accordingly, no significant increase of plasma urea, creatinine, or neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels was observed. A significant positive relationship was found between urea and creatinine levels at 2 hours (p < 0.009) and at 72 hours (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic contrast computed tomography examination in patients with normal renal function did not lead to Contrast-induced nephropathy or increased neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels, an accepted early indicator of kidney injury.

Prevalence of alcohol in blood samples from traffic accident cases in Turkey.

Alcohol is one of the main causes of traffic accidents worldwide. With a population of 70 million, 12 million vehicles, and 18 million drivers (16% women), Turkey is one of the European countries that has a high incidence of road traffic accidents.In accordance with Turkish laws, subjects were considered to be positive when alcohol blood concentration exceeded 50 mg/100 mL. The objective of the present study was to obtain reliable and comparable data about alcohol use in traffic cases in Turkey. All cases are admitted to the emergency department at Ege University Medical Faculty. The cases from police officers are described as traffic control cases. Alcohol was detected in the blood of about 54.4% of the traffic-related cases during October 2005 to March 2007. It has been observed that, in 17.4% of the traffic accident cases, the blood alcohol level was 50 mg/dL or less, which is the legal limit in Turkey for car drivers. Alcohol prevalence was 57.2% in male cases and 43.6% in female cases. In alcohol-positive cases; the ratios for males were 1.73 times more frequent in traffic-related cases. Prevalence data will help traffic safety professionals to adequately allocate resources and plan future efforts in reducing drinking-and-driving behavior and thereby reduce traffic accidents.