Health Protection And Improvement Sensitivity For Covid-19 Pandemic: Turkey's Case.

This descriptive study was aimed at identifying the anxiety levels of Turkish people in the first three months of the pandemic, the coping methods they use to control this anxiety, and their knowledge and behavior about protection and prevention against COVID-19. The data were collected from 571 individuals. Of the individuals, 84.6% had anxiety. The anxiety levels of those who kept working during the pandemic were significantly higher than were the anxiety levels of those who did not (p < .05). The participants experienced a moderate level of anxiety, and they mostly used relaxation techniques, music therapy, and prayer/worship to cope with anxiety. The knowledge level of the individuals about COVID-19 was moderate.

The effect of prolonged use of surgical masks during face-to-face teaching on cognitive and physiological parameters of nursing students: A cross-sectional and descriptive study.

AIMS: This study was conducted to examine the effects of using surgical masks on nursing students' cognitive and physiological parameters during full-time face-to-face teaching during the pandemic. BACKGROUND: It is known that the use of surgical masks has effects on health professionals' physiological parameters. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study with a pretest-posttest design was conducted. The study was carried out at a state university. METHODS: Sixty-one nursing students taking Internal Medicine Nursing course in the fall semester during the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the study. Study data were collected by using a Descriptive Information Form, the Cognitive Fatigue Scale, the One-way Dyspnea Scale and the Cognitive Reaction Time application in a theoretical course that took 310 min on 15 November 2021. Students' physiological parameters were measured by using a thermometer and pulse oximetry. RESULTS: It was found that students' cognitive fatigue levels (p < 0.001) and body temperature increased (p < 0.001) and that cognitive reaction rates (p = 0.05) and pulse rates decreased (p < 0.001). It was determined that after the lesson, there was a weak positive correlation between nursing students' level of dyspnea and body temperature and their cognitive fatigue levels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that the use of surgical masks during full-time face-to-face teaching increased students' cognitive fatigue and decreased their cognitive reaction rates. The research will have an impact on redesigning the curriculum for face-to-face teaching. Lecturers should revise their teaching by taking these findings into account.

Parent Quality of Life scale in Type 1 Diabetes: a scale development and validation study.

The study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Parental Quality of Life Scale in Type 1 Diabetes for parents. This research was a methodological study. The data of the study were collected between May and July 2021. The study included 201 parents who have a child with type 1 diabetes. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, item-total score analysis, and factor analysis were used to evaluate the research data. In line with the suggestions of the experts, a total of 20 items were removed from the scale and a 12-item scale was created. The scale consists of 12 items and 2 sub-dimensions and shows 62.7% of the total variance. The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was found to be 0.91 and its sub-dimensions were more significant than 0.85. According to both explanatory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, all factor loads were more significant than 0.60.  Conclusion: The Parental Quality of Life Scale in Type 1 Diabetes was found to be valid and reliable. The scale can be used as a measurement tool in experimental or qualitative studies to be conducted on children with type 1 diabetes and their families. It is recommended to adapt the scale's psychometric properties to different cultures. What is Known: • The quality of life of parents who have a child with type 1 diabetes may be affected due to the burden of care for the disease. Parents' low quality of life can negatively affect pediatric patients' health.. • There is no measurement tool in the literature that directly measures the quality of life of parents who have a child with type 1 diabetes, whose validity and reliability studies have been conducted. What is New: • A measurement tool was developed to evaluate the quality of life of parents with a child with type 1 diabetes. • This measurement tool is valid and reliable.

COVID-19 Anxiety and Colorectal Cancer Screening Attitudes Among Adult Men in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between levels of anxiety about COVID-19 and attitudes toward colorectal cancer screening in adult men in Turkey. SAMPLE & SETTING: The participants in this study were 188 adult men, aged 50-70 years, who were not diagnosed with cancer, and who could use social media. The researchers shared the link to the study forms through social media, and data were collected between February 2021 and May 2021. METHODS & VARIABLES: A personal information form, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Attitude Scale for Cancer Screening were used to collect descriptive research data. RESULTS: Participants had mean scores of 1.04 (SD = 2.12) for the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and 95.28 (SD = 16.91) for the Attitude Scale for Cancer Screening. There was no significant correlation between the scores (p > 0.05). Family structure and the reasons for applying for colorectal cancer screening were significantly related to participation in colorectal cancer screening programs (p < 0.05). IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Individualized screening models can be used to prevent the deferral of cancer screenings. To ensure early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, nurses should be encouraged to use telehealth applications and help individuals perform immunochemical tests at home.

Women's attitudes towards healthy life awareness and breast cancer screening during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: In the COVID-19 pandemic, fear of coronavirus infection has caused individuals to hesitate to access medical services and postpone their participation in diagnostic and screening programs. With this research, it was aimed to examine the relationship between women's wellness awareness and attitudes towards breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional type research was conducted between 30 January 2021 and 30 July 2021. The sample of the study consisted of 396 women between the ages of 40 and 69 who were in the breast cancer screening population under national cancer screening standards and met the criteria for inclusion. The data of the study were collected using a web-based and self-reported questionnaire, Personal Information Form, Healthy Life Awareness Scale and Cancer Screening Attitude Scale. RESULTS: It was determined that more than half of women postponed breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reasons for the postponement were often fear of contamination. It was determined that there was a relationship between the participants' awareness of healthy living and their attitudes towards cancer screening (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was found that approximately two out of every three women in the screening population during the pandemic did not have screening or postponed it due to fear of contamination. It was determined that women who had awareness of healthy living and had breast cancer screening before the pandemic had a positive attitude towards cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Investigation of occupational safety in oncology nurses.

Objective. This study aimed to examine the occupational safety of oncology nurses. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the risks faced by oncology nurses in the units they work in and occupational safety. The data of the study were collected between April and October 2020 using an online questionnaire prepared by the researchers in line with the literature. The sample for the study consisted of 117 oncology nurses who voluntarily participated in the study and filled out the questionnaire completely. Results. More than half of the participants stated that they did not find occupational safety practices sufficient and were not given additional rights or psychological support given the risks of exposure. Conclusions. The study concluded that to improve occupational safety in oncology nurses, the physical conditions of the working environment should be improved, and up-to-date oncology and occupational safety training should be given regularly.

Eliciting the Concept of Cancer in Nursing Students in Turkey: an Exploratory Metaphor Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Although there are promising studies on cancer treatment, it is still a frightening disease. For effective treatment, an integrative and positive perspective is required. Using the power of metaphors to facilitate understanding of complex and intangible ideas, this study aims to define cancer from the perspective of Turkish nursing students. SAMPLE AND SETTING: This study was conducted with 166 nursing students at a nursing faculty in Turkey. It was a mixed method study using qualitative and quantitative methods. METHODS AND VARIABLES: To capture the picture in a human mind of the complexity of feelings for cancer, writing a description and elicitation interviews were employed. Moreover, to reach ontological and epistemological level thoughts in the deepest layers of elicited metaphors, the data were analyzed in an analytical framework. RESULTS: The study provides a conceptualization of "Cancer." The students produced 92 valid metaphors. The most commonly used metaphors were found to be 'death', 'war', 'a virus', 'a malady' and 'a spider'. It was found that the metaphors produced by the students on the concept of cancer generally used negative themes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: This study provides a framework for understanding all aspects of the concept of cancer on the metaphor axis. It is believed that the results will provide an holistic approach toward the concept of cancer, especially in nursing education, and will increase awareness of this concept.

Perceived stress and affecting factors related to COVID-19 pandemic of emergency nurses in Turkey.

AIM: To examine the perceived stress and affecting factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic of emergency nurses at the first stage of the pandemic. BACKGROUND: During pandemic process, nurses reported to experience stress due to a very high risk of being infected and hard work. METHOD: A descriptive study. The sample of the study consisted of 169 emergency nurses. To collect data, a personal information form was used together with the Perceived Stress Scale. RESULTS: The factors that significantly affect the perceived stress score of emergency nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic included applying respiratory isolation, changing the way of life, not being able to access protective equipment, insufficient nurses in the unit and thinking that COVID-19 will be transmitted to oneself. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the emergency nurses perceived stress above average during pandemic, and their working conditions affected this situation. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Meeting physiological needs and applying psychological guidance and counselling interventions in the stress management of emergency nurses may contribute to the reduction of their stress levels. Effective infection control, reducing workload, increasing the number of nurses and strengthening the coping mechanisms can minimize the perceived stress level of emergency nurses.

Effect of mobile phone app-based training on the quality of life for women with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The study purpose was to determine the effects on quality of life (QoL) of a mobile phone app-based training for supportive care of women with breast cancer who were using adjuvant endocrine hormonal therapy. METHODS: The study is based on a randomized pre-post test design. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group that received routine care or an intervention group that received routine care plus access to the mobile phone app-based training support for 12 weeks. QoL and symptom distress were measured before intervention (T0), and after 12 weeks (T1) of intervention. This study is the application of two modality combinations: the mobile app-based patient education (1) and web-based management application (2). The mobile app-based training also provided basic information about breast cancer, symptom diary and lifestyle recommendations (adequate and balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, deal with stress effectively). RESULTS: QoL of the treatment group after intervention increased and distress level was lower compared to the control group; these results were statistically significant. The majority of the patients reported that the mobile application was "informative and useful". CONCLUSIONS: This demonstrated that the mobile app is an effective intervention for supportive care in women with breast cancer. The mobile app-based training, which is an innovative intervention, is recommended as a supportive care initiative for women with breast cancer.

Accumulation of DNAPL waste in subsurface clayey lenses and layers.

Chlorinated solvents like trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) are prevalent groundwater contaminants being detected more than half of the Superfund Sites. They are introduced into the subsurface due to improper disposal of hazardous wastes containing these chlorinated dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPL). DNAPL wastes sink in the subsurface and form pools on clay layers. Further transport into the underlying clay layer is dominated by diffusion due to the low permeability of these soils and results in accumulation of contaminants therein overtime through diffusion. However, field evidence reported that mass storage of solvents in such zones was higher than what can be attributed to simple diffusion. To evaluate this finding, mass storage of TCE in a hypothetical aquitard after 30 years of diffusion was calculated. The diffusion coefficient reported in the field study resulted in mass storage of 137.7 g in this hypothetical aquitard whereas the mass calculated using the measured diffusion coefficient of TCE from pure solvent into water-saturated clayey soil was 25-65% of it (35.0-89.4 g). The calculated mass storage was even lower (8.2 g) if the measured diffusion coefficient of TCE from DNAPL waste into waste-contacted soil was used. So, mass of TCE accumulated through sole diffusion was not able to explain the one observed in the field. This excess mass in the field might be the mass of DNAPL entered into the cracks which were reported to form in clay layers as a result of the direct contact between water saturated clay and DNAPL waste. Mass of TCE in the cracks was calculated using reported average crack size and an assumed crack depth, and it appeared that cracks filled with DNAPL could increase the stored mass up to a minimum of 334 g which could easily account for the enhanced mass storage observed in the field.

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

Investigation of the attitudes of university students to discrimination of the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of university students studying in different fields toward discrimination of the elderly. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted with students who were still studying in the 2015-2016 period. A sample size of 416 students was determined by the stratified sampling method, and students were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using an identifying information form and an Age Discrimination Attitude Scale (ADAS) by face-to-face interview. Statistical analysis was performed using the program SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: The mean total ADAS score of students was 67.7±6.0. The total ADAS scores and the scores of male students on limiting the life of the elderly was significantly higher than those of female students (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was determined that university students studying in different fields have a positive attitude toward the elderly. Action must be taken to remove discrimination of the elderly, and policies must be developed to increase social sensitivity.

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.

Effective diffusion coefficients of DNAPL waste components in saturated low permeability soil materials.

Diffusion is regarded as the dominant transport mechanism into and out of low permeable subsurface lenses and layers in the subsurface. But, some reports of mass storage in such zones are higher than what might be attributable to diffusion, based on estimated diffusion coefficients. Despite the importance of diffusion to efforts to estimate the quantity of residual contamination in the subsurface, relatively few studies present measured diffusion coefficients of organic solutes in saturated low permeability soils. This study reports the diffusion coefficients of a trichloroethylene (TCE), and an anionic surfactant, Aerosol OT (AOT), in water-saturated silt and a silt-montmorillonite (25:75) mixture, obtained using steady-state experiments. The relative diffusivity ranged from 0.11 to 0.17 for all three compounds for the silt and the silt-clay mixture that was allowed to expand. In the case in which the swelling was constrained, the relative diffusivity was about 0.07. In addition, the relative diffusivity of 13C-labeled TCE through a water saturated silt-clay mixture that had contacted a field dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) for 18months was measured and equaled 0.001. These experimental results were compared with the estimates generated using common correlations, and it was found that, in all cases, the measured diffusion coefficients were significantly lower than the estimated. Thus, the discrepancy between mass accumulations observed in the field and the mass storage that can attributable to diffusion may be greater than previously believed.

A mechanism of basal spacing reduction in sodium smectitic clay materials in contact with DNAPL wastes.

There has been concern regarding the possible attack of clays in aquitards, slurry walls and landfill liners by dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) wastes, resulting in cracking. Despite the fact that a reduction in basal spacing in sodium smectitic clay materials has been linked to cracking, no plausible mechanism by which this reduction occurs in contact with waste DNAPLs has been formulated. To elucidate a mechanism, screening studies were conducted that showed that the combination of an anionic surfactant (AOT), a nonionic surfactant (TritonX-100) and a chlorinated solvent, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), could replicate the basal spacing reduction and cracking behavior of water-saturated bentonite caused by two waste DNAPLs obtained from the field. FTIR measurements of this system showed a displacement of the HOH bending band of water symptomatic of desiccation. Sorption measurements showed that the uptake of AOT by bentonite increased eight fold in the presence of TritonX-100 and PCE. The evidence presented here supports a mechanism of syneresis, involving the extraction of water from the interlayer space of the clay through the synergistic sorption of a nonionic and anionic surfactant mixture. It is speculated that the solvation of water in reverse micellar aggregates is the process driving the syneresis.

Cancer in the elderly.

Ageing is a fundamental biological process in all living beings. Nowadays as a result of developments in preventive and therapeutic medicine, and improvements in the quality of life, ageing of the population is one of the most important demographic issues. In the elderly, cancer is one of the predominant causes of mortality and morbidity, and its incidence increases with ageing. Sixty percent of all cases with cancer, and 70% of cancer-related deaths occur in patients aged 65 years and over. For optimal care, and treatment of elderly cancer patients a multidisciplinary approach consisting of physical, psychological, and tumor-related assessments should be pursued. Because of increased incidence of cancer caused by demographic changes in Turkey and in the world, an increase in the burden of cancer in the population is expected. In the years to come, this expectation will also lead to an increase in cancer-related health expenses.