Breastfeeding self-efficacy in terms of sleep quality, perceived social support, depression and certain variables: a cross-sectional study of postpartum women in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding self-efficacy is one of the key factors that affect a healthy and successful breastfeeding process. A mother's belief regarding her ability to breastfeed is influenced by social and psychological factors. This study aimed to investigate the breastfeeding self-efficacy levels of postpartum women, the factors affecting this, and its relationship with sleep quality, social support and depression. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric department of a tertiary hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Data were collected from 200 postpartum women using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). RESULTS: The mean scores of the BSES-SF, PSQI, MSPSS and EPDS were 59.05 ± 8.28, 9.18 ± 3.67, 57.82 ± 18.81, and 8.98 ± 5.89, respectively. A statistically significant negative correlation was found among the BSES-SF, EPDS (r = -0.445, p = 0.001) and PSQI (r = -0.612, p = 0.004), while a positive correlation was found among the BSES-SF, total MSPSS (r = 0.341, p = 0.036), and family support (r = 0.373, p = 0.014) (p < 0.05). In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the number of births and breastfeeding self-efficacy (F = 3.68; p = 0.001). The linear regression analysis revealed that sleep quality (ß = -0.491, p = 0.001), perceived social support (ß = 0.146, p = 0.015), family support (ß = 0.153, p = 0.013), and depression (ß = -0.228, p = 0.001) emerged as the predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the increase in sleep quality and perceived social support positively affected the breastfeeding self-efficacy of postpartum women, while giving birth for the first time and an increase in the risk of depression were negatively affected.

The relationship between biological rhythm and perceived social support, coping styles and medication adherence in patients with bipolar disorder in Türkiye.

INTRODUCTION: The disruption of biological rhythm (sleep, eating patterns, hormonal secretions, activities, and social life etc.) in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder makes it challenging to balance the mood of the patient and facilitates recurrence. Although social support, coping with stress, and medication adherence are known to affect prognosis, no study has been found to investigate the relationship between these factors and biological rhythm. AIM: This descriptive and correlational design study investigated the relationship between perceived social support, coping styles and medication adherence, and biological rhythm in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. METHOD: This study was conducted with 111 patients receiving treatment in the outpatient clinics of the psychiatry department of two public hospitals in Ankara, Turkey. Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Coping Style Inventory (CSI), and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) were used for data collection. RESULTS: The biological rhythm total and subscales scores were significantly and negatively related to perceived social support total, and subscales scores (p < 0.005). The biological rhythm total and most of its subscales scores were significantly and negatively related to medication adherence (p < 0.005). The biological rhythm total and domain scores were significantly and negatively related to seeking social support, self-confident, and optimistic subscales of CSI while significantly and positively related to helpless and submissive (p < 0.005). DISCUSSION: In this study, a positive relationship was found between increased perceived social support, effective coping with stress, and adherence to medication. This study highlights that these factors may be helpful for the regulation of biological rhythm.

Assessment of the effects of loneliness, perceived social support, and depression on medication adherence in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the effects of loneliness, perceived social support, and depression on medication adherence of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 119 AS patients. Data were collected using the Morisky-Green-Levine Medication Adherence Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). FINDINGS: Nonadherent patients were younger (P = .033), scored higher on the ULS (P = .015), and BDI (P = .024) scales, and lower on the MSPSS scale (P = .039) and on family support (P = .002). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The biopsychosocial aspects of patients with AS should be managed holistically to improve their medication adherence.

Does the smartphone use affect the determination of daily goals: A nursing students' example?

PURPOSE: To examine how the risky use of smartphone in nursing students affects their daily goals. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 419 nursing students participated in this study. A Descriptive Data Form, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and Daily Goals Scale were used to collect the data. FINDINGS: According to our study results; students who are afraid of forgetting or losing their phone have a higher risk of being smartphone addiction. As the risks of students' smartphone addiction increase, their daily goal setting levels decreased. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The risky use of smartphone effects negatively daily goals setting. Education and counseling programs that will prevent the risky use of smartphones and the associated risk of addiction should be provided for nursing students.

Anxiety, depression, and knowledge level in postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess anxiety, depression, and knowledge level in postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 postpartum women using a web-based online survey in Ankara, Turkey. FINDINGS: The prevalence of depression was 34.0%. The mean anxiety and COVID-19 knowledge scores were 42.69 ± 9.93 and 9.69 ± 1.94, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the anxiety scores and depression status (p < 0.001) of women. There were statistically significant differences between fear about being infected with COVID-19 for themselves (p = 0.01) and for babies (p = 0.01) and the postpartum depression (PPD). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, early detection and appropriate and timely intervention to prevent and detect anxiety and PPD are crucial to the well-being of a woman.

Addressing the psychosocial needs of patients: Challenges for nursing students.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of nursing students to determine the psychosocial needs of patients and identify the needs and problems encountered by nursing students. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study is a mixed method research. The nursing care plans of 40 nursing students that provided care to 129 patients with chronic medical diseases were examined retrospectively. Individual interviews were also conducted with five nursing students and six academicians. FINDINGS: It was determined that nursing students defined an average of 15.77 ± 11.55 physiological and an average of 3.05 ± 2.28 psychosocial nursing diagnoses for 129 patients. Data analysis of individual interviews revealed two main themes: (1) identifying psychosocial diagnoses: teaching difficulties and (2) identifying psychosocial diagnoses: learning difficulties. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This can facilitate the learning process of each student to include physiological and a psychosocial care focus in their nursing care through discussions and evaluation with their mentors and instructors.

Resilience in nurses in terms of perceived social support, job satisfaction and certain variables.

AIM: This study investigated the resilience of nurses, the factors that contribute to resilience, and its relationship with perceptions of social support and job satisfaction. BACKGROUND: Resilience plays an important role in how nurses cope with work-related stressors. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted with 242 nurses working at three public hospitals in Turkey. Data were collected using a descriptive data form, the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale (MJSS). RESULTS: Nurses' mean scores on the RSA, MSPSS, and MJSS were 99.80 ± 4.43, 66.66 ± 13.30, and 3.31 ± 0.72, respectively. Statistically significant relationships were detected between resilience and five factors: age, gender, mother's educational level, work experience and working hours (p < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was also observed between MJSS score and both total RSA and family support subscale scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The resilience, perceived social support, and job satisfaction of participating nurses were moderate. Significant factors in their resilience were age, gender, mother's educational level, work experience, working hours, perceived social support and job satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers can use the results to plan interventions that improve resilience among nurses.

Improving Empathy in Nursing Students: A Comparative Longitudinal Study of Two Curricula.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine changes of empathy levels of nursing student in two different curricula structures, one called "traditional" and the other called "integrated" curricula. The study was a longitudinal design to follow a cohort of nursing students to examine the magnitude of changes in empathy in their education years. METHODS: The study was conducted in a public school of nursing giving a baccalaureate degree, which had a fundamental change in their curricula. In all, 81 students from the traditional curricula and 66 students from the integrated curricula completed the study, and data from a total of 147 students were analyzed between 2003 and 2008. The Empathic Communication Skills Scale and the Empathic Tendency Scale were given to the students in the beginning of their freshman year and at the end of the fourth year just before graduation. RESULTS: Although both of the curricula were seemed effective at improving empathic skills of students, especially the scores of students who completed the integrated curricula were higher than the scores of the other group attending the traditional curricula (p<.05). However, the empathic tendency scores of students in both curricula decreased at the end of fourth year. CONCLUSION: Although undergraduate nursing curricula either traditional or integrated improved empathic skills, it seemed that integrated curricula were more effective than traditional curricula in increasing empathic skills. The more hours and more experiential methods contributed to improved empathy. The decrease in empathic tendency requires further attention of educators and nurse managers.

Relationship of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms to alexithymia among nursing students.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms to alexithymia among nursing students. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted with 284 undergraduate nursing students. Data were collected using Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), Menstrual Symptom Scale (MSQ), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20). FINDINGS: The PMSS, MSQ, and TAS-20 mean scores were 103.56 ± 35.08, 2.92 ± 0.8, and 45.22 ± 9.17, respectively. There was statistically significant positive correlation between TAS-20 and PMSS and MSQ mean scores (p < .05). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Women should be evaluated for alexithymia to prevent the adverse effects of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms.

Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Time Management Among Nursing Students.

The Internet is an essential part of everyday life, particularly for the younger generation. The aims of this study were to evaluate nursing students' problematic Internet use and time management skills and to assess relationship between Internet use and time management. This descriptive study was conducted with 311 nursing students in Ankara, Turkey, from February to April 2016. The data were collected using the Problematic Internet Use Scale and Time Management Inventory. The Problematic Internet Use Scale and Time Management Inventory median scores were 59.58 ± 20.69 and 89.18 ± 11.28, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between both nursing students' Problematic Internet Use Scale and Time Management Inventory median scores and some variables (school grade, the time spent on the Internet). Fourth-year students were more prone to excessive use of the Internet and the resulting negative consequences than students from other year levels (P < .05). A significant negative relationship was also found between problematic Internet use and time management (P < .05). This study demonstrates that the Internet use of participants was not problematic and their time management skills were on a moderate level.

Turkish Version of the Student Nurse Stress Index: Validity and Reliability.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to adapt the Student Nurse Stress Index (SNSI) for the Turkish nursing students and investigate its psychometric properties. METHODS: Research was conducted with 152 volunteer female students who attended a university college in Ankara, Turkey. Test-retest reliability was investigated for the scale internal consistency (Cronbach α) and stability. Also, content validity and construct validity of the SNSI were assessed. In order to determine the construct validity of SNSI, Uygulamali Çok Degiskenli Istatistiksel Yöntemler and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The Turkish version of SNSI with 15 items comprised four factors (academic load, clinical concerns, personal problems, interface worries). The content validity index (CVI) score was .97. Factor loadings of Turkish version of SNSI varied between .532 and .868. The "personal problems" subscale explained 19.01% of the variance; "clinical concerns" explained 18.51%; "interface worries" explained 15.32%; "academic load" explained 14.14%. The total variance explained was 66.99%. CFA results (χ2/SD, GFI, CFI, TLI, IFI, RMSEA and SRMR) were acceptable and in good agreement. The internal consistency coefficient of the SNSI was .86. CONCLUSION: Results showed that the SNSI had a satisfactory level of reliability and validity in nursing students in Turkey. Multicenter studies including nursing students from different nursing schools are recommended for the SNSI to be generalized.

The Effects of Psychoeducation on the Expressed Emotion and Family Functioning of the Family Members in First-Episode Schizophrenia.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the psychoeducation received by the family members of the patients with first-episode schizophrenia on the expressed emotion (EE) and the family functioning of the family members. This study has a quasi-experimental design with a control group. The sample of the study was 60 family members (30 experimental -30 control) of the patients with first-episode schizophrenia. The experimental group received 9 weeks of psychoeducation as a group. EE and family functioning were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the psychoeducation program. EE criticism/hostility and over involvement-protecting-intervention levels of the family members have decreased at the end of the psychoeducation (p < 0.05). Family functioning has changed too at the end of the psychoeducation (p < 0.05), and assessed as more healthy. Consequently, early psychoeducational groups may be effective in decreasing EE level and improving the family functioning for a family member of patient with first-episode schizophrenia.