Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on latex glove usage and latex allergy complaints among nurses: A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a significant increase in the use of latex gloves among nurses. However, concerns about the rise in latex allergies and related complaints due to this increase remain uncertain.OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the rates of latex glove usage and allergy-related complaints among nurses working in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Between May 15 and June 15, 2021, ethical approvals were obtained for a cross-sectional study involving 448 volunteer nurses. Descriptive statistics were used to represent categorical values as counts (n) and percentages (%), while continuous values were represented as mean±standard deviation. The normal distribution of the data was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Comparative analyses were conducted using paired sample t-test, Pearson's chi-squared (x2) test, McNemar's chi-squared (x2) test, and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Before the pandemic, the average number of invasive procedures was 45.13±26.48, whereas during the pandemic, this rate increased to 50.23±29.14. The average glove usage duration went from 7.69±3.13 hours to 14.73±3.68 hours during the pandemic. Among nurses, the rate of allergic symptoms, which was previously at 31.5%, rose to 33.3% during the pandemic.CONCLUSION: This study revealed a significant increase in daily invasive procedures and the use of latex gloves among nurses during the pandemic period. Simultaneously, the frequency of allergic symptoms also rose. These findings underscore the importance of awareness and preventive measures, particularly regarding latex allergies, in the healthcare field.

The importance of cancer prevention policies to inform and guide preventative and screening measures for people with intellectual disabilities: The COST project "Cancer- Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities".

Cancer is a global public health problem, but its exact prevalence in people with intellectual disabilities is still uncertain. This population, with limited health skills and complex health needs, faces many challenges in cancer prevention, screening, timely diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, they are often underrepresented in general cancer prevention and screening policies across Europe, leading to widened disparities in health outcomes and premature mortality. Thus, unified national and local policies are needed to reduce inequalities and promoting a pan-European inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Our goal is to raise public awareness of this issue, including the involvement of people with intellectual disabilities, and promote engagement from relevant stakeholders. The COST Action 'Cancer- Understanding Prevention in Intellectual Disabilities' (CUPID) project will address health inequalities faced by people with intellectual disabilities in relation to cancer, and support the development of policy recommendations specifically tailored to their unique cognitive and healthcare needs, having a positive long-term impact on quality of life.

From a learning opportunity to a conscious multidimensional change: a metasynthesis of transcultural learning experiences among nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Several educational activities in nursing schools worldwide have been implemented to promote transcultural nursing and cultural competence. Despite the diversity of their experiences and outcomes, the available evidence has not been systematically reviewed and reinterpreted. This study aimed to review and reinterpret all rigorous qualitative evidence available, providing an opportunity to understand how students learn transcultural nursing and assisting faculties, researchers, managers, and practitioners in designing new interventions to improve transcultural training. METHODS: A meta-synthesis was conducted to review and integrate qualitative studies of these phenomena. English, Spanish and Portuguese articles were searched in Pubmed and Scopus databases. Only peer-reviewed journals in which qualitative approaches were used were included. Quality was assessed using the CASP qualitative version checklist. The metasynthesis technique proposed by Noblit and Hare was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies were included in the analysis. Most studies used phenomenological approaches that were conducted in Australia and the United States of America, with international internships being the most popular learning method. The data revealed one central theme, "From learning opportunity to conscious multidimensional change," and six subthemes. The transcultural nursing learning experience is not a simple or linear process. Instead, it appears to be a complex process formed by the interaction between a) self-awareness, b) reflective thinking, c) Cultural Encounters, d) cultural skills, e) Cultural Desire, and f) Cultural Knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Transcultural nursing learning is a multifaceted process that arises from specific learning opportunities. This process is still to evolving. Therefore, specific educational strategies should be implemented to encourage attitudinal change and promote reflective thinking.

Developing the better and effective nursing education for improving transcultural nursing skills cultural competence and cultural sensitivity assessment tool (BENEFITS-CCCSAT).

BACKGROUND: A clear need for the development of new comprehensive, reliable, sensitive and valid measurement tools to adequately asses the cultural competence and cultural sensitivity of nursing students exists. This study aimed to develop a new measurement tool to assess the nursing students' cultural competence and sensitivity. METHODS: This cross-sectional, instrument development study's first phase included postgraduate nursing students (n = 60) for the piloting study, and the second one included undergraduate nursing students (n = 459) for the main survey. This study used two data collection forms: The Student Descriptive Information Form and the Better and Effective Nursing Education for Improving Transcultural Nursing Skills Cultural Competence and Cultural Sensitivity Assessment Tool (BENEFITS-CCCSAT) draft. The content validity index was calculated using the Davis method. Cronbach's α coefficient and the item total correlation were calculated during the reliability analysis. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) coefficient test, Bartlett significance test, and explanatory factor analysis (EFA) were used to evaluate the validity of the assessment tool. RESULTS: Scale validity and reliability analyses showed that the BENEFITS-CCCSAT included 26 items and five sub-dimensions: respect for cultural diversity; culturally sensitive communication; achieving cultural competence; challenges and barriers in providing culturally competent care; and perceived meaning of cultural care. CONCLUSION: The BENEFITS-CCCSAT appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the cultural sensitivity and cultural competence of nursing students. This can be of great use, especially before attending clinical areas, and can offer both students and faculty reliable information to promote reflective and critical thinking, especially in areas where improvement is needed.

Examination of individualised care behaviours and ethnocentrism of nurses caring for refugees: A descriptive and exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Qualified individualised nursing care should be provided to all communities and ethnic groups with free of ethnocentrism. AIMS: To evaluate nurses' individualised care behaviours and ethnocentric attitudes and predict the relationship between their individualised care behaviours and ethnocentric attitudes. DESIGN: A descriptive and exploratory study. METHODS: This study was conducted with 250 nurses working in a public and two private hospitals in a city, an area with many refugees. Data were collected using the Ethnocentrism Scale and Individualised Care Behaviours Scale. Structural equation model analysis to test hypothetical model and descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: Nurses working in the private hospitals had a higher individualised care decision control mean score. Those nurses who enjoyed spending time with people from different cultures had lower mean ethnocentrism scale scores, higher individualised care clinical status, personal life and decision control status subscales mean scores compared to other nurses. Mean scores of the individualised care personal life and decision control status subscales of the nurses who followed the literature on transcultural nursing was higher. A significant relationship between the ethnocentrism levels and individualised care behaviours was identified. Accordingly, the ethnocentric attitudes of the nurses negatively affected their individualised care behaviours, and the model established between the two concepts is statistically appropriate. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses who work in private hospitals, receive intercultural nursing education and enjoy spending time with different cultures have higher individualised care behaviours and lower ethnocentrism levels. Ethnocentric attitudes of the nurses negatively affected their individualised care behaviours. Care strategies should be developed that consider the factors that will maximize individualised care practices that minimize ethnocentric behaviours among nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: Increasing awareness on individualised care behaviours, ethnocentric attitudes and effected factors will contribute to improve of nursing care quality of nurses while giving care to individuals from different cultures.

Knowledge and Practices of Surgical Nurses on Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia.

AIM: This study aimed to determine surgical nurses' knowledge of the risk factors and complications of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia and the practices preferred to prevent inadvertent perioperative hypothermia and to provide normothermia. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted on 122 volunteer nurses working in the surgical clinics of a state and a private hospital between August 1 and September 15, 2019. The data collection form included questions to determine the characteristics of nurses and the risk factors, complications, and preventive practices of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia. The data forms were distributed by visiting the nurses one by one and were retrieved after an appropriate time. For statistical analyses, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22.0 software was used. RESULTS: The most known risk factors for IPH were "excessive blood loss" (75.4%), "anemia" (73.0%), and "inadequate covering of the patient/ not enough clothing" (72.9%). The most known complications of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia were "increased oxygen consumption and need" (65.6%), "hypoxemia" (61.5%), and "hypoxia" (49.4%). The most preferred method to provide normothermia in the perioperative period was "covering the patient with a blanket" (80.3%). CONCLUSION: In this study, nurses did not have enough information about the risk factors and complications of Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia. In addition, it was determined that most of the nurses did not use the methods in the guidelines to prevent inadvertend perioperative hypothermia.

Evaluation of the relationship between individual workload perception and compliance with isolation measures of emergency and critical care nurses.

BACKGROUND: As a result of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, compliance with isolation measures has become challenging. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the individual workload perception and compliance with isolation measures of nurses working in the emergency service and critical care unit during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: This descriptive correlational study was carried out in the emergency service and critical care unit of a public hospital between April 20 and May 20, 2021. A total of 153 nurses working in the emergency service and critical care unit who agreed to participate in the study were included in the study. RESULTS: Nurses from a state hospital's emergency department and critical care unit (n = 153) were included in the study sample. The impression of overall individual workload by nurses and compliance with isolation (r = 0.153; p < 0.05) had a positive, weak, and significant relationship. The Isolation Measures Compliance Scale resulted in a mean score of 70.70±5.35. The mean score on the Individual Workload Scale for nurses was moderate (3.22±0.54). CONCLUSION: The low perception of individual workload of nurses working in the emergency service and critical care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the compliance with isolation measures.

Exposure of Emergency Nurses to Workplace Violence and Their Coping Strategies: A Cross-Sectional Design.

INTRODUCTION: Violence against nurses working in the emergency department is a serious problem worldwide. METHODS: This descriptive study used a participant questionnaire and was conducted in-person, using semi-structured interviews with 120 emergency nurses (69 female, 51 male) working in the emergency department between September 1 and November 30, 2017. RESULTS: Overall, 90% of the study participants were exposed to workplace violence at least once while working in the emergency department, and 94.4% experienced verbal abuse, including insults, shouting, threats, and swearing. Most of such workplace violence came from the patients relatives. Most workplace violence incidents occurred during the 4 pm to midnight time slot and in the triage area. The most important perceived reasons for workplace violence were the long waiting period for treatment and care (79.6%) and not being prioritized for treatment (68.5%). The top 3 coping methods used were reporting to the nurse in charge (78.1%), followed by reaching out to the security personnel (72.8%) and filing lawsuits if exposed to physical violence (65.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Most emergency nurses had experienced workplace violence. Hospital administration should take more effective security measures, hospitals should provide education and training programs for dealing with workplace violence, and programs to support staff members on encountering workplace violence should be implemented.

Effect of family presence on stress response after bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a major surgery that may cause severe surgical stress response (SR). Although the presence of family members in intensive care unit (ICU) is known to benefit intensive care patients socially and emotionally, its effects on surgical SR are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of an informed family member (IFM)'s presence in the awakening process in ICU on patients' SR after CABG. METHODS: A nonrandomized controlled clinical study was completed with a total of 73 patients: 37 patients in the control (CG) and 36 in the intervention group (IG) underwent CABG surgery. In the CG patients, no family members were taken into the ICU during the awakening process and routine care and treatment practices were continued. In the IG patients, besides routine care and treatment practices, an IFM was taken into the ICU during the awakening process in accordance with the research method. Groups were statistically compared in terms of serum cortisol level which is the one of the main indicators of surgical SR, state anxiety, sedative drug requirements, and duration of intubation, sedation, and ICU stay. A p value <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: Presence of an IFM in the ICU was found to be effective in decreasing serum cortisol level, state anxiety, sedative drug requirements, and the duration of intubation, sedation, and ICU stay (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In CABG, the presence of IFM in ICU is effective in reducing SR.

Validity and reliability of functional assessment of chronic illness treatment-fatigue scale in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes / Validez y fiabilidad de la escala de fatiga de la valoración funcional del tratamiento de enfermedades crónicas en pacientes turcos con diabetes tipo 2

Background: A long-term diabetic complication, fatigue, which is a direct result of treatment and psychological processes, is a common symptom in diabetic individuals. Aims: To determine the reliability and validity of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Treatment-Fatigue Scale in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes. Study design: A methodological study. Methods: The sample consisted of 133 patients with type 2 diabetes who agreed to participate in the study and met the criteria for the study. Data were collected using the descriptive information form prepared by the researcher and the Scale obtained from FACIT System. The research data were collected by face-to-face interviews with the patients. Language and content validity of the Turkish version of the Scale was provided, Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, test-retest analysis and item analysis methods were used as reliability analysis. Results: The total Cronbach Alpha coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.92. According to the results of factor analysis, unlike the original scale, two sub-dimensions emerged in the Turkish version of the scale. Conclusions: As a result of the validity and reliability analysis of the FACIT-Fatigue Scale, it can be said that it provides psychometric measures that can be used to determine the level of fatigue of type 2 diabetes patients in Turkish society

Antecedentes: La fatiga, una complicación a largo plazo de la diabetes que es consecuencia directa del tratamiento y de procesos psicológicos, es un síntoma frecuente en los diabéticos. Objetivos: Determinar la fiabilidad y la validez de la escala de fatiga de la valoración funcional del tratamiento de enfermedades crónicas (FACIT) en pacientes turcos con diabetes tipo 2. Diseño del estudio: Estudio metodológico. Métodos: La muestra constaba de 133 pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 que aceptaron participar y cumplían los criterios del estudio. Se recogieron datos mediante el impreso informativo descriptivo preparado por el investigador y la escala obtenida del sistema FACIT. Los datos se recogieron en entrevistas personales con los pacientes. Se informa de la validez del idioma y el contenido de la versión turca de la escala, y se utilizaron el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, el análisis prueba-reprueba y métodos de análisis de ítems para analizar la fiabilidad. Resultados: El coeficiente alfa total de Cronbach de la escala era 0,92. Según los resultados del análisis de factores, a diferencia de la escala original, en la versión turca de la escala surgieron 2 subdimensiones. Conclusiones: Basándose en el resultado de los análisis de validez y fiabilidad de la escala de fatiga de la FACIT, puede afirmarse que proporciona medidas psicométricas que pueden emplearse para determinar el grado de fatiga de los pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 en la sociedad turca

Validity and reliability of functional assessment of chronic illness treatment-fatigue scale in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: A long-term diabetic complication, fatigue, which is a direct result of treatment and psychological processes, is a common symptom in diabetic individuals. AIMS: To determine the reliability and validity of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Treatment-Fatigue Scale in Turkish patients with type 2 diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: A methodological study. METHODS: The sample consisted of 133 patients with type 2 diabetes who agreed to participate in the study and met the criteria for the study. Data were collected using the descriptive information form prepared by the researcher and the Scale obtained from FACIT System. The research data were collected by face-to-face interviews with the patients. Language and content validity of the Turkish version of the Scale was provided, Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, test-retest analysis and item analysis methods were used as reliability analysis. RESULTS: The total Cronbach Alpha coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.92. According to the results of factor analysis, unlike the original scale, two sub-dimensions emerged in the Turkish version of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the validity and reliability analysis of the FACIT-Fatigue Scale, it can be said that it provides psychometric measures that can be used to determine the level of fatigue of type 2 diabetes patients in Turkish society.

Determination of food intake and the factors affecting food intake in perioperative period in patients who undergo open heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the factors affecting food intake in perioperative period of patients who undergo open heart surgery and the effects of body weight, albumin and hemoglobin values, nausea, vomiting and constipation on food intake. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 4 February 2015 and 4 May 2015 in a cardiovascular surgery clinic. A questionnaire including 25 questions was applied to a total of 86 volunteer participants (62 males, 24 females; mean age 61.3±10.8 years; range 38 to 82 years). RESULTS: Patients consumed 38% of the food one day before the surgery and 51% one day after, 47% three days after, and 52% five days after the surgery. Factors affecting food intake were the procedure of discontinuing food intake for pre-surgery anesthesia preparation (84.9%), nausea (31.4%) one day after surgery, and constipation three (26.5%) and five (33.7%) days after surgery. Albumin levels decreased significantly in days after surgery compared to the day before surgery (p<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between food intake rates and albumin levels on the first, third and fifth days after surgery (r=0.354, r=0.353, and r=0.521, respectively; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients' body weight and albumin levels decreased in accordance with their nourishment status after surgery. Food intake was insufficient in the perioperative period.

Health-related quality of life in persons living with a urostomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the life experiences and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients living with a urostomy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: This prospective and descriptive study was carried out in a research and training hospital in Gaziantep, Turkey; data were collected from May 2009 to September 2011. Twenty-four participants had undergone a urostomy operation at least 4 months before study participation. METHODS: A form querying pertinent demographic and clinical information, combined with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QoL Q-C30) was used for data collection. Data collection forms were sent to the patients via mail in closed envelopes. The Mann-Whitney U, the Kruskal Wallis, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used for the comparative statistics; statistical significance was accepted when P values were <.05. RESULTS: The mean age of the 24 participants was 63.45 ± 6.33 years (mean ± SD; range, 49-72 years). The average time since surgery was 9.83 ± 2.34 months (range, 4-18 months). Most respondents stated that their urostomy affected their dressing habits (83.4%), sleep patterns (91.7%), family life (91.7%), participation in social activities (91.7%), and occupation (75.0%). All participants reported problems with psychological health and sexual activity following urostomy surgery. Analysis of EORTC QoLQ-C3 scores revealed that general wellness, functional condition, and symptomatic condition mean scores were lower than population-based norms associated with this instrument (54.16 ± 15.29, 44.07 ± 9.62, and 64.31 ± 12.56, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Creation of a urostomy affected the patients' lifestyle and HRQOL negatively. Determining the patients' experiences, problems, and the change in HRQOL may provide assistance in designing appropriate nursing approaches to alleviate problems adapting to a urostomy.

Evaluating the effects of preoperative fasting and fluid limitation.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative fasting and fluid limitation in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Although traditional long-term fasting is not recommended in current preoperative guidelines, this is still a common intervention. Visual analogue scale was used to assess hunger, thirst, sleepiness, exhaustion, nausea and pain; State and Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to assess the preoperative anxiety of 99 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Mean time of preoperative fasting and fluid limitation were, respectively, 14.70 ± 3.14 and 11.25 ± 3.74 h. Preoperatively, 58.60% of the patients experienced moderate anxiety. Patients fasting 12 h or longer had higher hunger, thirst, nausea and pain scores. The mean trait anxiety score of patients fasting 12 h or longer was statistically significantly higher. Receiving nothing by mouth after midnight preoperatively is a persisted intervention and results in discomfort of patients. Clinical protocols should be revised and nurses should be trained in current fasting protocols.

Evaluation of Early Warning Scoring System and Nursing Guide Application in Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of nursing guide application developed for the present study and to evaluate the Early Warning Scoring System (EWSS) in post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU). METHODS: The study was carried out as a randomised-controlled experimental study. The study sample comprised of 123 adult patients having thoracic and abdominal surgery between January 2011 and April 2011 in the Anaesthesiology and Reanimation Department of a training and research hospital. Patients were randomised during the pre-operative period; the patients who were followed-up according to the EWSS and a nursing guide constituted the study group (SG=63) and the patients whose EWSS score was calculated but routine follow-up in PACU was not intervened constituted the control group (CG=60). RESULTS: During the PACU, complications developed in in 34.92% of SG patients and in 30.00% of CG patients. Of the SG patients, 95.45% developing complications and of the CG patients, 22.22% developing complications were treated in the first 10 minutes, and it was determined that in 61.12% of CG patients, complications were not treated. There was a significant difference between the SG and CG patients in terms of treatment duration against complications (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The EWSS and nurse's guide provides early determination and treatment of patients developing complications. Thus, it is recommended to use the EWSS and a nursing guide in PACU.

Effectiveness of local cold application on skin burns and pain after transthoracic cardioversion.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic cardioversion (TTC) is widely used in emergency departments and daily clinical practice. TTC may cause skin lesions on the application of apical and sternal paddle areas. The lesions are characterised by redness, erythema and blister(s), and can be defined as first degree burns locally causing pain and increased sensitivity. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of local cold application on reducing the incidence, severity and pain/sensitivity of skin burns in patients who underwent TTC. METHODS: The study was conducted in the intensive care unit of the cardiovascular surgery department. The patients were assigned to study (n=24) and control groups (n=24). Local cold application was performed for a 1 hour period on patients in the study group, whereas only clinical procedures were applied in the control group following TTC. Incidence and severity of burn was evaluated 2 h after TTC, and pain/sensitivity scores were evaluated at 2, 4 and 24 h after TTC. Results The incidence of burn was significantly lower in the study group (3/24) compared to the control group (21/24) (12.5% vs 83.3%, p<0.001). Pain/sensitivity scores were significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Local cold application following TTC is an effective means of reducing the incidence and severity of burns and pain/sensitivity. It is cost-effective and can easily be applied by nurses in medical/surgical units and emergency departments.

Patient and nurse perceptions of stressors in the intensive care unit.

The objective of the study was to determine the perceptions of a group of patients on intensive care units' (ICUs) stressors and the perceptions of nurses on ICU patients' stressors in Turkey, and compare the differences in patients' and nurses' perception of the stressors in ICUs. In this descriptive study, 155 patients who were admitted to medical or surgical ICUs and 152 nurses who are employed in the same units of two training and research hospitals in Turkey were enrolled in this study. The ICU Environmental Stressor Scale (ICUESS) was used to determine intensive care stressors. According to total ICUESS mean scores, patients (91.41 ± 34.91) perceived significantly less stress than the ICU nurses (133.23 ± 32.20) perceived them to have. Both patients and nurses ranked 'fear of death' as the greatest stressor. Physiological stressors were identified as the most important stressors by both patients and nurses. Patients and nurses in medical ICUs were more affected by stressors than their counterparts in surgical ICUs. Patients with unplanned or emergency admissions perceived higher stress than that of patients with planned admissions. Several factors could help reduce these stressors, such as having familiar arrangements, humane ICU environment, individual patient assessments and appropriate nursing interventions.

The effect of nurse-performed preoperative skin preparation on postoperative surgical site infections in abdominal surgery.

AIM: To determine the effect of preoperative skin preparation procedures performed by nurses on postoperative surgical site infection in abdominal surgery. BACKGROUND: Despite all interventions, postoperative SSIs still greatly affect mortality and morbidity. DESIGN: This is an experimental study. METHODS: Procedures developed for nurse application of preoperative skin preparations were tested on a control group (n = 39) and study group (n = 43). RESULTS: Only clinical routines for preoperative skin preparation were performed on the control group patients. Control group members' skins were mostly prepared by shaving with a razor blade (41%). For the study group members, the researchers used the preoperative skin preparation procedure. Clippers were used to prepare 55.8% of study group members while 44.2% of them were not treated with the clipper because their wounds were clean. As a requirement of the procedure, all members of the study group had a chlorhexidine bath at least twice after being hospitalised and at least once a night before the operation under controlled conditions. In the group where chlorhexidine bath was not applied, the infection risk was found to be 4.76 times (95%CI = 1.20-18.83) greater even after corrections for age and gender had been made. The difference between control group and study group with respect to surgical site infections was also statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Preoperative skin preparation using clipper on the nights before an operation and a 50 ml chlorhexidine bath excluding head area taken twice in the pre-operative period are useful to reduce SSI during postoperative period. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: We find that preoperative skin preparation using the procedures developed as a result of findings of this study is useful in reducing surgical site infection during the postoperative period.

Nurses' perceptions of the barriers to and the facilitators of research utilization in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine nurses' perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of research utilization in Turkey. Barriers Scale was utilized in the research, and the population was 631 nurses. According to the research results, the first three important barriers were inadequate authority (63.6%), lack of time (54.0%), and insufficient facilities (52.8%). Nurses have perceived the organizational management support as the most important easing factor in their applications (n = 156). It is highly recommended that nurses be trained in research methods and evidence-based practice, that research articles be written more clearly, and that Research and Development centers where nurses could get consultation services be established.