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Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is seen not only as a disease, but it is also defined by a series of met- aphors: mysterious, evil, an invisible enemy, an insidious danger, and a democratic virus. This study was conducted to analyze the nurses' perceptions of COVID-19 through metaphors.Methods: This qualitative research was planned as a descriptive phenomenological approach. Twenty-eight nurses working in the COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) participated in the study. The metaphor-based data collection pro- cess was carried out with five open-ended questions. The data were analyzed through a thematic analysis. The Consol- idated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist was used to analyze this study.Results: Most military and fatigue related to the time nurses work in intensive care;Hero and nightmare of patient care with COVID-19;distance and restlessness in family relationships;their mental health darkroom and fatigue;COVID-19 as an insidious enemy and infinity. A total of 128 metaphors were produced.Conclusion: Working during the COVID-19 epidemic, COVID-19 ICU nurses exhibit unfavorable approaches toward their jobs, family relationships, and mental health. Improving the working conditions of ICU nurses and considering their desires will help contribute to a favorable direction.
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OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, people's admissions to the hospital for their current illness were delayed. We aimed to reveal how this situation has affected the endoscopic treatment of ureteral stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who were treated for 59 endoscopic ureteral stones in the pre-pandemic period between September 2019 and December 2019, and patients who were treated for 60 endoscopic ureteral stones between January 2022 and April 2022, when the effectiveness of the COVID-19 pandemic decreased, were evaluated in two groups. Pre-pandemic patients were classified as group 1, and patients treated during the period when the effectiveness of the pandemic decreased as group 2. The patients' ages, preoperative laboratory examinations and radiological findings, localization and size of the stones in the ureter, time until the operation, duration of the operation, length of hospital stay, preoperative ESWL history, complication rates according to the Modified Clavien classification were evaluated. The problems observed in the ureter during the operation were examined separately as edema, polyp formation in the ureter, distal ureteral stenosis, and adhesion of the stone to the mucosa. RESULTS: In group 1, 9 patients were female and 50 were male, with a mean age of 42.19 ± 14.06 years; in group 2, 17 patients were female and 43 were male, with a mean age of 45.23 ± 12.20 years. The stone size was found to be higher in group 2. Group 1 had more patients who did not develop complications in the Modified Clavien classification, and the proportion of group 2 patients in the grade I-II-IIIA-IIIB classification was higher. Considering the waiting time before hospitalization, it was determined that the rate of group 2 patients was higher in those with a waiting period of 31-60 days (33.9-48.3%) and ≥60 days (10.2-21.7%). Except for the development of ureteral polyps, all other problems rate were found to be higher in group 2 patients compared to group 1. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a delay in the treatment of ureteral stones in patients. In the next period, as a result of this delay, negative effects on the ureteral mucosa were detected and, accordingly, an increase in the complication rates of the operation was observed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Ureter , Humans , Female , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Pandemics , Endoscopy , HospitalizationABSTRACT
Objective: Hajj is an important form of worship to which a high value is attributed by Muslims. The presence of many pilgrims approximately over the age of 60 together significantly increases the risk of developing respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and viruses [Middle East respiratory syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), SARS-coronavirus-2]. This study aimed to examine the awareness of Turkish pilgrims on the prevention of infections in the airways before the Hajj visit in 2019. Materials and Methods: A total of 382 Turkish pilgrims traveling to Mecca from Ankara in 2019 constituted the population of the study. The study was conducted in a qualitative and descriptive design. The data were collected through an acquisition information form. The participants were asked to fill out the "Acquisition information form for pilgrim candidates” prepared using a triple scale. Results: According to the results obtained from the study, 96.9% of the pilgrim candidates stated that they should wash their hands frequently and 88.7% of them stated that they use hand sanitizer when they cannot reach any water source. 91.6% of them indicated that the handkerchiefs they used should be disposable. Over 45% of the pilgrim candidates stated that they do not know how to use air conditioners and that they do not need to know it. The statistical results showed that there was a significant relationship between the age, gender, chronic disease, educational status of the pilgrims, and their awareness levels on protective factors to prevent RTIs. Conclusion: Pilgrims are likely to encounter many health problems in the Hajj visits. Therefore, healthcare professionals should be able to determine the accurate care that is needed by pilgrims before and after the hajj. It was determined that pilgrims need training in preventing RTIs. © Copyright 2022 by the Academic Geriatrics Society / European Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology published by Galenos Publishing House.
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Objective: There is only limited data about 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) outbreak from Turkey. Here, we aimed to analyse 2019-nCov cases in Turkey from statistical perspective. Material(s) and Method(s): Data were obtained from Republic of Turkey Ministery of Health website. The statistical modeling was performed for tests between 27 March and 18 April. The ratios were computed for according to test numbers, number of cases, number of patients in intensive care care, deaths for statistical analysis. An association between related ratios and time was analyzed by using curve estimation approach. Curves were drawn with 95% confidence interval. Result(s): The ratio of number of cases/number of tests were increased until 7 April and then decreased while the ratio of daily recovered cases/number of daily cases were decreased until that date and then increased. The ratio of deaths/number of cases were increased rapidly initially whereas it later increased more slowly. Although the ratio of number of intubated cases/number of cases and the ratio of number of cases in intensive care unit/number of cases have tendency to decrease in same rate, the ratio of number of deaths/number of cases in intensive care unit has tendency to increase from the beginning of pandemia until this date. Conclusion(s): The increasing trend of recovered cases, decreasing of deaths, requirement of intensive care unit and intubation are the main satisfactions for Turkey. The statistical modeling used here could shed some light on the control of process. While more cases than modeling estimate can show uncontrolled process, less cases could indicate well-controlled process. Copyright © 2020 by Turkiye Klinikleri.