The Effect of Cold Vapor and Ice Cube Absorption in the Early Postoperative Period on Sore Throat and Hoarseness Induced by Intubation.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of cold vapor and ice cube absorption in the early postoperative period on sore throat and hoarseness induced by intubation. DESIGN: This is a randomized controlled experimental study. METHODS: Four groups (n = 30) were involved in the study: cold vapor application (group 1), ice cube absorption (group 2), ice cube absorption along with cold vapor application (group 3), and a control group (group 4). The sample consisted of 120 participants. The data were collected using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Stout's hoarseness scale postextubation (zeroth hour) and at the second, sixth, and 24th hours. FINDINGS: After the interventions, the mean VAS scores for sore throat at the sixth postoperative hour were found to be 1.50 ± 1.71, 1.16 ± 1.08, and 1.30 ± 1.62 in group 1, group 2, and group 3, respectively. The mean VAS score for sore throat of group 4 was found to be 3.70 ± 1.89. The decrease in the VAS score for the sixth postoperative hour was ranked from highest to lowest as follows: ice cube absorption group, ice cube absorption along with cold vapor application group, and cold vapor application group. There was no significant difference between application groups in terms of mean VAS scores; however, it was found that mean VAS scores of all application groups were lower than that of control group, and there was a significant difference between them (P < .05). We found that at the sixth postoperative hour after intervention, 33.3% of group 1, 36.7% of group 2, 30% of group 3, and 46.7% of group 4 had hoarseness. No significant difference was found between groups, in terms of hoarseness scores of patients in the sixth postoperative hour after intervention (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Cold vapor application, ice cube absorption, and ice cube absorption along with cold vapor application were effective in reducing sore throat but were ineffective as treatment for hoarseness.

Determination of nursing diagnoses used by students in the first clinical practice.

PURPOSE: This study was carried out descriptively with the purpose of determining nursing diagnoses that nursing freshmen students used in their first clinical practice. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 61 nursing students. Data of the study were collected with the examination of 208 care plans that the students had prepared. Nursing diagnoses in the examined care plans were classified according to nursing diagnoses grouped under the domains of Taxonomy II NANDA-I. RESULTS: Students determined 31 different diagnoses in nine domains of NANDA-I. Total nursing diagnoses used in care plans were 635. CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that the nursing diagnoses that the students mostly used, according to classification of NANDA-I, were in the domains of safety/protection, activity/rest, comfort, elimination and exchange, and nutrition.

Prevalence and risk factors for excessive daytime of sleepiness in rural western Anotolia (Turkey): the role of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The purpose of the present study was to identify risk factors for and prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness and associations between demographic factors, obesity and metabolic syndrome criteria and excessive daytime somnolence (EDS). A descriptive and analytical study was conducted among 508 volunteers in primary health care centers in western Anatolia, Turkey. The data were obtained using a questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Metabolic syndrome components were defined according to the criteria of the Internetional Diabetes Federation. A logistic regression model was used for statistical analysis. The mean +/- SD age was 46.3 +/- 17.3 years, body mass index was 27.0 +/- 5.4 kg/m2 and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score was 5.0 +/- 4.4. The prevalence of EDS was 14.6% (n=74). Older age (OR 1.033; 95% CI 1.03-1.26) and high body mass index (OR 1.143; 95% CI 1.01-1.04) were associated with increased incidence of EDS. In backward logistic regression analysis, non-tea and coffee drinking (OR 6.189; 95% CI 2.10-18.2) were significantly asociated with EDS. According to our study, age, body mass index and non-tea and non-coffee drinking were associated with EDS.